Kofi Annan was a United Nations Secretary-General.
He was an African born on April 8, 1938, and died on August 18, 2018, due to a short illness. He received the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize along with the UN.
He founded the Kofi Annan Foundation. He was also the chairman of The Elders, an organization founded by Nelson Mandela.
Famous Kofi Annan Quotes
Here are some famous Kofi Annan quotes about peacebuilding and human life. Learn life from Kofi Annan's quotes.
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”
-'Where On Earth Are We Going?'
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”
“Education is a human right with immense power to transform.”
- 'Confronting Anti-Semitism'
“Education is the premise of success.”
- 'Basic Facts About The United Nations'
“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.”
“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.”
“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.”
“We don’t need any more promises. We need to start keeping the promises we already made.”
“The future belongs to you, but it can only belong to you if you participate and take charge.”
“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.”
“You are never too young to lead, and you should never doubt your capacity to triumph where others have not.”
“Gather the five virtues (Dignity, Confidence, Courage, Compassion, and Faith). Then you are a man.”
“…there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
“We can love what we are without hating what and who we are not.”
“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 and must be defeated.”
Kofi Annan Quotes About Human Rights
Here is how Kofi Annan's quotes contribute to an effective form of peacebuilding in its own tradition. Learn the human history that led to the effective form of human rights.
“We may have different religions, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.”
“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.”
“Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy, and sustainable human development.”
“We have the means and the capacity to deal with our problems if only we can find the political will.”
“If one is going to err, one should err on the side of liberty and freedom.”
“I am often asked what can people do to become a good global citizen. I reply that it begins in your own community.”
“Let us be good stewards of the Earth we inherited. All of us have to share the Earth's fragile ecosystems and precious resources, and each of us has a role to play in preserving them. If we are to go on living together on this earth, we must all be responsible for it.”
“The happiness of any society begins with the well-being of the families that live in it.”
“You are never too young to lead.”
“The world is not ours to keep. We hold it in trust for future generations.”
“Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract – sustainable development – and turn it into a reality for all the world's people”.
Kofi Annan Quotes About Equality
Here are some Kofi Annan quotes about equality to achieve lasting security. Perceive equality, the basic human trait, in the right way.
“When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.”
“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.”
“Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, 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.”
“We need to create a world that is equitable, that is stable, and a world where we bear in mind the needs of others, and not only what we need immediately. We are all in the same boat.”
“More countries have understood that women’s equality is a prerequisite for development.”
“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.”
“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.”
“There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
“Gender equality is critical to the development and peace of every nation.”
“We are not only all responsible for each other’s security. We are also, in some measure, responsible for each other’s welfare.”
“In the 21st century, I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion.”
Inspiring Kofi Annan Quotes
Find out some inspiring Kofi Annan quotes about civil society in a developing world. Learning cultural and national identity with his inspirational quotes.
“If you have a problem and you can't find a solution, you meet again tomorrow, and you keep talking until you find a solution. You can disagree with behavior or a particular position, but you do not resort to calling an opponent worthless.”
- 'Interventions: A Life In War And Peace'
"We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respect their teachings."
“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.”
“You are never too young to lead, and you should never doubt your capacity to triumph where others have not.”
“No one is born a good citizen or a good democrat or a good leader; it takes time and education.”
“We need to keep hope alive and strive to do better.”
“Without a dream, you’ll not get anywhere.”
“The Lord had the wonderful advantage of being able to work alone.”
“Insecurity is love dressed in a child’s clothing.”
“You have to wake up every day ready to start again.”
“ Education is, quite simply, peace-building by another name. It is the most effective form of defense spending there is.”
“In this new century, we must start from the understanding that peace belongs not only to states or peoples but to each and every member of those communities. The sovereignty of States must no longer be used as a shield for gross violations of human rights.”
“People of different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. ”
