A nation that does not stand for its children does not stand for anything and will not stand tall in the future. Marian Wright Edelman More Quotes by Marian Wright Edelman More Quotes From Marian Wright Edelman Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it. Marian Wright Edelman learning community education Children must have at least one person who believes in them. It could be a counselor, a teacher, a preacher, a friend. It could be you. You never know when a little love, a little support will plant a small seed of hope. Marian Wright Edelman teacher believe children The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to. Marian Wright Edelman black-history children We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. Marian Wright Edelman women inspirational peace You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation. Marian Wright Edelman african-american dog justice Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time. Marian Wright Edelman motivational inspirational life It is so important not to let ourselves off the hook or to become apathetic or cynical by telling ourselves that nothing works or makes a difference. Every day, light your small candle.... The inaction and actions of many human beings over a long time contributed to the crises our children face, and it is the action and struggle of many human beings over time that will solve them-with God's help. So every day, light your small candle. Marian Wright Edelman light struggle children If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much. Marian Wright Edelman ifs children Be a good ancestor. Stand for something bigger than yourself. Add value to the Earth during your sojourn. Marian Wright Edelman bigger earth add It's time for greatness - not for greed. It's a time for idealism - not ideology. It is a time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate action. Marian Wright Edelman greed greatness compassion Be real. Try to do what you say, say what you mean, and be what you seem. Marian Wright Edelman real trying mean We do not have a money problem in America. We have a values and priorities problem. Marian Wright Edelman money peace america Investing in [children] is not a national luxury or a national choice. It's a national necessity. If the foundation of your house is crumbling, you don't say you can't afford to fix it while you're building astronomically expensive fences to protect it from outside enemies. The issue is not are we going to pay - it's are we going to pay now, up front, or are we going to pay a whole lot more later on. Marian Wright Edelman luxury issues children The future which we hold in trust for our own children will be shaped by our fairness to other people's children. Marian Wright Edelman social-justice children people If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time. Marian Wright Edelman change inspiring peace Never let us confuse what is legal with what is right. Everything Hitler did in Nazi Germany was legal, but it was not right. Marian Wright Edelman germany principles law Dr. King used to say, 'I was sitting in the back of the bus, but my mind was always up front.' Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it. You aim high and you work very hard and now I think it's clear that you can be anything you want to. Marian Wright Edelman kings inspirational thinking It is the responsibility of every adult... to make sure that children hear what we have learned from the lessons of life and to hear over and over that we love them and that they are not alone. Marian Wright Edelman life-lesson education children I was taught that the world had a lot of problems; that I could struggle and change them; that intellectual and material gifts brought the privilege and responsibility of sharing with others less fortunate; and that service is the rent each of us pays for living - the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time or after you have reached your personal goals. Marian Wright Edelman volunteer responsibility struggle The outside world told black kids when I was growing up that we weren't worth anything. But our parents said it wasn't so, and our churches and our schoolteachers said it wasn't so. They believed in us, and we, therefore, believed in ourselves. Marian Wright Edelman growing-up inspirational kids
