Humanitarian Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old humanitarian quotes, humanitarian sayings, and humanitarian proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.

The humanitarian situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts. Sadako Ogata
The destiny of world civilization depends upon providing a decent standard of living for all mankind. Norman Borlaug
It's a great humanitarian injustice. Their families are here and they've been here. It's long past time for them to be reunited. Jeff Cohen
Being a humanitarian, supporting animal rights activists, human rights activists, it's all the same. Daryl Hannah
Humanitarian missions are little different from any other public enterprise, diplomacy included, which is susceptible of misinterpretation by the public, hence ultimately of failure. Alvin Adams
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
To say that on a daily basis you can make a difference, well, you can. One act of kindness a day can do it. Betty Williams
Humanitarianism is the expression of stupidity and cowardice. Adolf Hitler
There is no joy equal to that of being able to work for all humanity and doing what you're doing well. Buckminster Fuller
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. Mahatma Gandhi
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. Mahatma Gandhi
The humanitarian thing is to try to do all we can for these people. Tim Horton
A humanitarian is always a hypocrite. George Orwell
The most wonderful study of mankind is man. Relieving human suffering and diffusing universal knowledge is humanitarian. Daniel D Palmer
You have to separate the humanitarian impulse from the record of aid itself. We all want to help. Many people would say that it's the moral impulse of the rich to help the poor, but the record of aid has been terrible. George Ayittey
The humanitarian lays stress almost solely upon breadth of knowledge and sympathy. Irving Babbitt
Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose. Albert Schweitzer
The humanitarian would, of course, have us meddle in foreign affairs as part of his program of world service. Irving Babbitt
Humanitarian appeals always help. They penetrate deeper than political tradeoffs. Jesse Jackson
Liberals love to strike generous, humanitarian poses with other people's lives. Ann Coulter
The humanitarian in theory is the terrorist in action. Isabel Paterson
Our humanitarian efforts are being destroyed on the ground. Radhia Achouri
Humanitarian Logistics is about mobilization and movement of resources for disaster preparedness, disaster response and disaster recovery. Victor Manan Nyambala
The humanitarian is a treasure hunter seeking gems of remedy and appreciation. Richelle E. Goodrich
Humanitarian convictions are the linchpins of our salvation, and these an artist must champion. Eric Maisel
When we live in a world that is very unjust, you have to be a dissident. Nawal El Saadawi
Humanitarian issues must bring together all people who act in good faith trying to alleviate the suffering of people in dire need especially women, children and the elderly. Sergei Lavrov
A humanitarian seldom makes a good lover. For a lover's world revolves around their lover, while a humanitarian's world revolves around the world. Mokokoma Mokhonoana
There is a humanitarian impulse that one aspires to and there are days when one doesn't do it very well. Ralph Fiennes
Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back. Diana
Humanitarian agencies cannot be left alone. We need political backing and financial backing. Sadako Ogata
Failed or failing states may touch off internal conflict, destabilize a region or create a humanitarian crisis. William S. Cohen
Humans must deal with the sources of terrorism, altering society through the democratic rule of global law. This process will not occur, however, unless we choose to fulfill human needs, enforce human rights, and affirm world law. Gary Davis
Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On humanitarian intervention in general, I guess my view is not unlike the view that was attributed to Gandhi, accurately or not when he was supposedly asked what he thought about western civilization. He is supposed to have said that he thought it would be a good idea. Similarly, humanitarian intervention would be a good idea, in principle. Noam Chomsky
It's true that many say that they object to the idea of 'human nature,' but it's not clear what that is supposed to mean. Are we different from ants? Noam Chomsky
But it is quite rare to find a humanitarian who is indifferent to animals and surprisingly common to find that those who belittle animal rights are the same ones who find the pain of humans easy to bear. Hitchens
Just as you discover that stupidity and cruelty are the same everywhere, you find that the essential elements of humanism are the same everywhere, too. Hitchens
Humanism has many crimes for which to apologize. But it can apologize for them, and also correct them, in its own terms and without having to shake or challenge the basis of any unalterable system of belief. Hitchens
Those who are being enjoined to remember their humanity are being urged to remember quite a lot. Hitchens
Yet any time you and I question the schemes of the do-gooders, we're denounced as being opposed to their humanitarian goals. it seems impossible to legitimately debate their solutions with the assumption that all of us share the desire to help the less fortunate. Ronald Raegan
I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole. Malcolm X
He that gives his heart will not deny his money. Thomas Fuller
O! Yes; Be it any culture or even the most oblivious of dialect; the color of blood running in everybody's veins was a poignant scarlet; so c'mon mates lets relinquish baseless discrimination forever, and immortally bond ourselves; in the everlastingly priceless HUMANITARIAN SECT. Nikhil Parekh
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others? Martin Luther King, Jr.
Since the world has existed, there has been injustice. But it is one world, the more so as it becomes smaller, more accessible. There is just no question that there is more obligation that those who have should give to those who have nothing. Audrey Hepburn
You cannot lift the society by living on a pedestal, you must come down amidst the people. Abhijit Naskar
Make it a habit to feed at least one hungry person in your neighborhood every day, and there won't be any need for soup kitchens in the world. Abhijit Naskar
Do not sit and wait for a savior to come, be the savior for the people in despair. Abhijit Naskar
Yes, it is love that will save our world and our civilization, love, even for enemies. Martin Luther King, Jr.
If every child grows up watching their parents lend a hand to those in need, all suffering will fade within a century. Abhijit Naskar
Humanity is and must remain unconditional in the face of political, financial, and personal gain. Aysha Taryam
You can take the humanitarian out of the society, but you can't take society out of the humanitarian. Abhijit Naskar
Art to me is a humanitarian act and I believe that there is a responsibility that art should somehow be able to affect mankind, to make the world a better place. Jeff Koons
Isn't that why we're put on this earth to begin with, to make it a better place? It's not a religious quest; it's a humanitarian one. Simone Elkeles
The true measure of the justice of a system is the amount of protection it guarantees to the weakest. Aung San Suu Kyi
Today, no walls can separate humanitarian or human rights crises in one part of the world from national security crises in another. What begins with the failure to uphold the dignity of one life all too often ends with a calamity for entire nations. Kofi Annan