black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

I have been urging the leaders to listen to the aspirations and challenges of their own people, and engage in dialogue and take very bold measures. Normally, to their regret, these measures and bold reforms come too late, too little.

Ban Ki-moon

One of my earliest memories is walking up a muddy road into the mountains. It was raining. Behind me, my village was burning. When there was school, it was under a tree. Then the United Nations came. They fed me, my family, my community.
BAN KI-MOON

Memories Rain School
Men must teach each other that real men do not violate or oppress women – and that a woman’s place is not just in the home or the field, but in schools and offices and boardrooms.
BAN KI-MOON

Home Real School
I believe in a world of justice and human rights for all. A world where girls can grow up free of fear of abuse. A world where women are treated with the respect and dignity that is their right. A world where poverty is not acceptable. My dear young friends, you can make this your world.
BAN KI-MOON

Believe Girl Growing Up
I call on men and boys everywhere to join us. Violence against women and girls will not be eradicated until all of us – men and boys – refuse to tolerate it.
BAN KI-MOON

Boys Girl Powerful
World military spending has now risen to over $1.2 trillion. This incredible sum represents 2.5 per cent of GDP (global gross domestic product). Even if 1 per cent of it were redirected towards development, the world would be much closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
BAN KI-MOON

Goal Military Represent World
Between now and 2015, we must make sure that promises made become promises kept. The consequences of doing otherwise are profound: death, illness and despair, needless suffering, lost opportunities for millions upon millions of people.
BAN KI-MOON

Opportunity People Profound
The taking of life is too absolute, too irreversible, for one human being to inflict on another, even when backed by legal process. Where the death penalty persists, conditions for those awaiting execution are often horrifying, leading to aggravated suffering.
BAN KI-MOON

Death Execution Penalty Suffering
The longer we delay, the more we will pay.
BAN KI-MOON

Delay Longer More Pay
A deal must include an equitable global governance structure. All countries must have a voice in how resources are deployed and managed.
BAN KI-MOON

Country Global Warming Voice
Many say our world is at a tipping point. If we do not act together, if we do not act responsibly, if we do not act now, we risk slipping into a cycle of poverty, degradation, and despair.
BAN KI-MOON

Our Risk Together World
The unity in diversity of the United States is one of the country’s greatest strengths.
BAN KI-MOON

Country Diversity Unity
Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.
BAN KI-MOON

Fighting People Water
Let us acknowledge and celebrate what youth can do to build a safer, more just world. Let us strengthen our efforts to include young people in policies, programmes and decision-making processes that benefit their futures and ours.
BAN KI-MOON

Decision Effort People
Gender equality and women’s empowerment have been a top priority for me from day one as Secretary-General. And I am committed to making sure that the U.N. leads by example.
BAN KI-MOON

Empowerment Example Priorities
Sustainable development and climate change are two sides of the same coin
BAN KI-MOON

Climate Inspiring Sides Two
Climate change does not respect border; it does not respect who you are – rich and poor, small and big. Therefore, this is what we call global challenges, which require global solidarity.
BAN KI-MOON

Challenges Climate Doe
I have been urging the leaders to listen to the aspirations and challenges of their own people, and engage in dialogue and take very bold measures. Normally, to their regret, these measures and bold reforms come too late, too little.
BAN KI-MOON

Leader People Regret
Our atmosphere can’t tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North American SUV, or deforestation in South America or Africa.
BAN KI-MOON

America Atmosphere Differences
Nuclear disarmament is the only sane path to a safer world.
BAN KI-MOON

Disarmament Nuclear Path World
My observation is China is thinking more as a global player than regionally, in both politics and economics.
BAN KI-MOON

Economics Player Thinking
Climate change…is, simply, the greatest collective challenge we face as a human family.
BAN KI-MOON

Challenges Climate Faces
Reason doesn’t mean very much in a country like North Korea.
BAN KI-MOON

Country Korea Mean
The current model is global suicide. We need a revolution. Revolutionary thinking. Revolutionary action. Natural resources are becoming more and more scarce.
BAN KI-MOON

Business Suicide Thinking
In a world of plenty, no one, not a single person, should go hungry. But almost 1 billion still do not have enough to eat. I want to see an end to hunger everywhere within my lifetime.
BAN KI-MOON

Hunger Want World
On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us redouble our efforts to build societies in which slavery truly is a term for the history books.
BAN KI-MOON

Book Children Men
Climate change, demographics, water, food, energy, global health, women’s empowerment – these issues are all intertwined. We cannot look at one strand in isolation. Instead, we must examine how these strands are woven together.
BAN KI-MOON

Empowerment Issues Water
As the young leaders of tomorrow, you have the passion and energy and commitment to make a difference. What I’d like to really urge you do is to have a global vision. Go beyond your country; go beyond your national boundaries
BAN KI-MOON

Commitment Country Passion

I have been urging the leaders to listen to the aspirations and challenges of their own people, and engage in dialogue and take very bold measures. Normally, to their regret, these measures and bold reforms come too late, too little.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

I have been urging the leaders to listen to the aspirations and challenges of their own people, and engage in dialogue and take very bold measures. Normally, to their regret, these measures and bold reforms come too late, too little.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Ban Ki-moon Quotes