"We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race."
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Quote collection
Kofi Annan quotes (page 1 of 17)
333 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family."
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"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there."
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"Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society's margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies."
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"We need to promote greater tolerance and understanding among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity."
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"Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development."
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"We shall not defeat any of the infectious diseases that plague the developing world until we have also won the battle for safe drinking water, sanitation, and basic health care."
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"...there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women."
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"Education is, quite simply, peace-building by another name. It is the most effective form of defense spending there is."
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"When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life."
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"Ignorance and prejudice are the handmaidens of propaganda. Our mission, therefore, is to confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity. Racism can, will, and must be defeated."
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"Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance."
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"If globalization is to succeed, it must succeed for poor and rich alike. It must deliver rights no less than riches. It must provide social justice and equity no less than economic prosperity and enhanced communication."
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"It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity."
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"Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace"
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"You are never too young to lead and you should never doubt your capacity to triumph where others have not."
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"...let us continue to work together to develop and nurture in future generations a culture of human rights, to promote freedom, security and peace in all nations."
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"UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after decades of conflict. The blue helmets and their civilian colleagues work together to organize elections, enact police and judicial reform, promote and protect human rights, conduct mine-clearance, advance gender equality, achieve the voluntary disarmament of former combatants, and support the return of refugees and displaced people to their homes."
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"I am not afraid to dream. You first have to start with a dream. Build your castles in the air and give it foundation. Without a dream, you are not going to get anywhere."
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"Gather the five virtues (Dignity, Confidence, Courage, Compassion, and Faith). Then you are a man."
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