"As one of my predecessors said, our objective is not to take people to heaven, but to prevent humanity from going to hell."
Read quote
8 likes
Quote collection
Kofi Annan quotes (page 7 of 17)
333 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever."
Read quote
8 likes
"For too long the development debate has ignored the fact that poverty tends to be characterized not only by material insufficiency but also by denial of rights. What is needed is a rights-based approach to development. Ensuring essential political, economic and social entitlements and human dignity for all people provides the rationale for policy. These are not a luxury affordable only to the rich and powerful but an indispensable component of national development efforts."
Read quote
8 likes
"We will not enjoy security without development, we will not enjoy development without security, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights."
Read quote
8 likes
"The future of peace and prosperity that we seek for all the world's peoples needs a foundation of tolerance, security, equality and justice."
Read quote
8 likes
"To live is to choose."
Read quote
8 likes
"Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace."
Read quote
8 likes
"Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind."
Read quote
8 likes
"To build a more healthy, peaceful and equitable world the classrooms of the world have to be full of girls as well as boys."
Read quote
8 likes
"We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on Internet time. Governments tend to be slow moving by nature, because they have to build political support for every step."
Read quote
8 likes
"Let us all reaffirm our commitment to improving the well- being of families throughout the world."
Read quote
8 likes
"More countries have understood that women's equality is a prerequisite for development."
Read quote
8 likes
"Terrorism constitutes a direct attack on the values the UN stands for: the rule of law; the protection of civilians; peaceful resolution of conflicts; and mutual respect between people of different faiths and cultures."
Read quote
8 likes
"This is a day on which we pay our respects to those who have endured the unimaginable. This is an occasion for the world to speak up against the unspeakable. It is long overdue that a day be dedicated to remembering and supporting the many victims and survivors of torture around the world."
Read quote
8 likes
"There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole - women and men alike - than the one which involves women as central players."
Read quote
8 likes
"On this International Day of Peace, let us dare to imagine a world free of conflict and violence"
Read quote
8 likes
"I did not always achieve what I set out to do. Nevertheless, my personal example certainly suggests that hands-on experience can be helpful to future leaders."
Read quote
8 likes
"Let us work in partnerships between rich and poor to improve the opportunities of all human beings to build better lives."
Read quote
8 likes
"We often hear a lot about subsidies, because it's often the powerful talking about the poor; the poor don't have enough voice to question the privileges."
Read quote
8 likes
"Fierce national competition over water resources has prompted fears that water issues contain the seeds of violent conflict."
Read quote
8 likes