You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself. That values itself. That understands itself. Wangari Maathai More Quotes by Wangari Maathai More Quotes From Wangari Maathai You can make a lot of speeches, but the real thing is when you dig a hole, plant a tree, give it water, and make it survive. That's what makes the difference Wangari Maathai future differences real In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now. Wangari Maathai leadership peace thinking You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them. Wangari Maathai empowering helping people When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope. Wangari Maathai climate plant tree No matter who or where we are, or what our capabilities, we are called to do the best we can. Wangari Maathai do-the-best capability matter Every one of us can make a contribution. And quite often we are looking for the big things and forget that, wherever we are, we can make a contribution. Sometimes I tell myself, I may only be planting a tree here, but just imagine what's happening if there are billions of people out there doing something. Just imagine the power of what we can do. Wangari Maathai tree peace people Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come... Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed, to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Wangari Maathai support-systems ideas thinking Sometimes we become bound by other people's thoughts because we are not sure about ourselves. Wangari Maathai not-sure sometimes people The little grassroots people can change this world. Wangari Maathai littles people world Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from the land, but instill in them even more respect for it, because educated people are in a position to understand what is being lost. The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. As I told the foresters, and the women, you don't need a diploma to plant a tree. Wangari Maathai land mean people It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees. Wangari Maathai citizens differences tree I want to do the right things - I want to plant trees, I want to make sure that the indigenous forests are protected because I know, whatever happens, these are the forests that contain biodiversity, these are the forests that help us retain water when it rains and keep our rivers flowing, these are the forests that many future generations will need. Wangari Maathai rain rivers water Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and then you protect. Wangari Maathai fighting rights people We can love ourselves by loving the earth. Wangari Maathai earth We cannot tire or give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk! Wangari Maathai generations giving-up earth When you know who you are you are free. Wangari Maathai who-you-are knows We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. This will happen if we see the need to revive our sense of belonging to a larger family of life, with which we have shared our evolutionary process. Wangari Maathai diversity earth needs African women in general need to know that it's OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence. Wangari Maathai success inspiring happiness I’m very conscious of the fact that you can’t do it alone. It’s teamwork. When you do it alone you run the risk that when you are no longer there nobody else will do it. Wangari Maathai risk teamwork running Every person who has ever achieved anything has been knocked down many times. But all of them picked themselves up and kept going, and that is what I have always tried to do. Wangari Maathai knocked-down climate-change persons
