Education promotes equality and lifts people out of poverty. It teaches children how to become good citizens. Education is not just for a privileged few, it is for everyone. It is a fundamental human right.
Interpretation
Education is essential for equality and personal development, accessible to all as a fundamental right.
In this quote, Ban Ki-Moon emphasizes the transformative power of education in promoting social equality and alleviating poverty. He argues that education should not be a privilege reserved for a select few, but rather a fundamental human right that empowers individuals and fosters responsible citizenship, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed and contribute positively to society.
In practice
During a speech on educational policy, one might quote this to advocate for inclusive education.
Nuclear terrorism is one of the most serious threats of our time. Even one such attack could inflict mass casualties and create immense suffering and unwanted change in the world forever. This prospect should compel all of us to act to prevent such a catastrophe.
We have international standards regulating everything from t-shirts to toys to tomatoes. There are international regulations for furniture. That means there are common standards for the global trade in armchairs but not the global trade in arms.
Weapons of mass destruction violate more than individual lives - they cross international borders and jeopardize all people. They also drain resources that could be used instead for medicines, schools and other life-saving supplies. We must come together with even greater determination to prevent a WMD nightmare.
Throughout human history, in any great endeavour requiring the common effort of many nations and men and women everywhere, we have learned - it is only through seriousness of purpose and persistence that we ultimately carry the day. We might liken it to riding a bicycle. You stay upright and move forward so long as you keep up the momentum.
By including children with different learning abilities in mainstream and specialized schools, we can change attitudes and promote respect. By creating suitable jobs for adults with autism, we integrate them into society.
Freedom is a timeless value. The United Nations Charter calls for encouraging respect for fundamental freedoms. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights mentions freedom more than twenty times. All countries have committed to protecting individual freedoms on paper - but in practice, too many break their pledge.
Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
Our true birthplace is that in which we cast for the first time an intelligent eye on ourselves. My first homelands were my books.
It gives me a very keen satisfaction that, after listening to my blather all those years, former students are now seeing that I wrote a book, that I did have it in me.
I always believed you could learn something from nearly everybody you meet, if you're open to it.
My message was 'Think African. Make schools read African history.'
Examine every word you put on paper. You'll find a surprising number that don't serve any purpose.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.