Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช) (5 December 1927 - 13 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great in 1987 (officially conferred by King Vajiralongkorn in 2019), was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama IX. Reigning since 9 June 1946, he was the world's longest-reigning current head of state from the death of Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1989 until his own death in 2016. During his reign, he was served by a total of 30 prime ministers beginning with Pridi Banomyong and ending with Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Quotes

 * Development of the nation must be carried out instages, starting with the laying of the foundation by ensuringthe majority of the people with their basic necessities throughthe use of economical means and equipment in accordancewith theoretical principles. Once reasonably firm foundationhas been laid and in effect, higher levels of economic growthand development should next be promoted.
 * "Speech given at the ceremony of conferring degrees at Kasetsart University" (18 July 1974)


 * It is highly important to encourage and help people inearning their living and supporting themselves with adequatemeans, because those who are gainfully employed andself-supporting are capable of contributing definitelytowards higher levels of development.
 * "Speech given at the ceremony of conferring degrees at Kasetsart University" (18 July 1974)


 * Some complained they were asked too much to sacrificefor the sake of common interest that they were annoyed tohear. They might think what they would get in return if theykeep sacrificing. Actually, doing good for the sake of common interest does not bear fruits only to the public but also to the individuals....
 * "Speech given to the students at Khon Kaen University" (20 December 1971)


 * The Nation belongs to everyone, not one or two specific people. The problems exist because we don't talk to each other and resolve them together. The problems arise from 'bloodthirstiness'. People can lose their minds when they resort to violence. Eventually, they don't know why they fight each other and what the problems they need to resolve are. They merely know that they must overcome each other and they must be the only winner. This no way leads to victory, but only danger. There will only be losers, only the losers. Those who confront each other will all be the losers. And the loser of the losers will be the Nation.... For what purpose are you telling yourself that you're the winner when you're standing upon the ruins and debris?
 * A television broadcast of King Bhumibol Adulyadej to Suchinda and Chamlong. (20 May 1992)


 * If we are a highly advanced country, there is only oneway to go: backwards. Mind you, those highly industrializedcountries are bound to go down, and down in a very dangerous way. On the other hand, if we use a “poor man’s”method of administration, without being too dogmatic about theory, but with the spirit of Unity in mind, that is, with mutual tolerance, we will have more stability.
 * "Speech given on the occasion of the Royal Birthday Anniversary" (4 December 1991)


 * All Thais should realise this point a lot and behave and perform our duties accordingly, our duty for the sake of the public, for stability, security for our nation of Thailand.
 * "Thai king urges mutual support in birthday speech" in BBC (5 December 2013)


 * Sufficiency means to lead a reasonably comfortable life, without excess, or overindulgence in luxury, but enough. Some things may seem to be extravagant, but if it brings happiness, it is permissible as long as it is within the means of the individual. This is another interpretation of the sufficiency economy or system. Last year, when I mentioned the word sufficiency, I mentally translated it and actually spelled it out as self-sufficiency; that is why I said sufficiency for the individual. In fact, this sufficiency economy has a wider meaning than just self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency means that the individual produces the things to fulfill his own needs without having to purchase them from others; the individual can live entirely on his own.
 * "Speech given to the audience of well-wishers on the occasion of the Royal Birthday Anniversary at the Dusidalai Hall, Chitralada Villa, Dusit Palace" (4 December 1998)


 * If the King can do no wrong, it is akin to looking down upon him, because the King is not being treated as a human being. The King can do wrong.
 * As quoted in 2005, "Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej: One of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs" in CNN (14 October 2016)


 * If they want to write about me in a good way, they should write how I do things that are useful. If they want to criticize me, I don't care, I don't mind. But they must criticize me fairly. Usually the criticism is not fair. Or the praise, even the praise sometimes is not fair.
 * "King Bhumibol's Reign" in The New York Times (21 May 1989)


 * My philosophy has been to take things day by day. When I talk about this philosophy it makes people perhaps a little surprised.
 * "King Bhumibol's Reign" in The New York Times (21 May 1989)


 * I do some things that are within my rights and then they see that it is something that is all right. So they begin to understand that I am doing things not for my own enrichment or my own interest. It is for the whole country.
 * "King Bhumibol's Reign" in The New York Times (21 May 1989)


 * You can stay in the frame of the law, You do what the law says. That is, if you say something, the Prime Minister or a minister must countersign, and if he is not there to countersign, we cannot speak. That is one way to do it - do nothing, just nothing at all. The other way is to do too much, use the influence we have to do anything. That doesn't work either. We must be in the middle, and working in every field.
 * "King Bhumibol's Reign" in The New York Times (21 May 1989)


 * Thailand has been a peaceful nation for a long time; this is because of the existence of national solidarity and because members of society have performed their duty in a complementary manner with each other for the interest of the whole nation.
 * "The king’s birthday speech" in New Mandala (5 December 2013)