Mary Robinson Quotes

Inequality causes problems by creating fissures in societies, leaving those at the bottom feeling marginalized or disenfranchised.

Man has set man against man, Washed against unwashed.

In poor countries, the rich and powerful crush the poor and powerless.

I confront the European elite's self-image as tolerant 'while under their noses women are living like slaves.

Inequality is a terrible waste of time, a waste of people's resources.

I'm concerned about - the oppression of the poor.

If we continue to create a world where there is poverty and disrespect, there will continue to be terrorism.

Men are separated by so many petty things.

I've always stood on one fact - that all over the world, there are only two things, the Establishment and the poor people. The poor people are a massive majority and across the world they are exploited in different kinds of ways. The Establishment depends on exploiting raw materials and the poor.

I have not personally suffered from the deprivations, the bitterness and sorrow which bring so many men and women to a realisation of social injustice.

Keeping people on the margins of cultural, social and political life constitutes in many nations one of the most glaring injustices of our time.

Most of human history has consisted of unequal conflicts between the haves and have nots.

Women are now in the situation of the mass of mankind a few years since, when science and learning were in the hands of priests, and property was held by vassalage.

Untouchables are treated as if less than beasts …. Untouchability for me is more insufferable than British rule. If Hinduism hugs Untouchability, then Hinduism is dead and gone.

If a test of civilization be sought, none can be so sure as the condition of the half of society over which the other half has power—from the exercises of the right of the strongest.

We are still a nation deeply divided by race and class.

The South politician preaches to the poor white man, "You got more than the blacks, don't complain. You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain. And the Negro's name Is used, it is plain, For the politician's gain, As he rises to fame And the poor white remains On the caboose of the train; But it ain't him to blame -- He's only a pawn in their game.

What rights have women? ... [they are] punished for breaking laws which they have no voice in making. All avenues to enterprise and honors are closed against them. If poor, they must drudge for a mere pittance—if of the wealthy classes, they must be dressed dolls of fashion—parlor puppets...

Resentment — that feeling when the modern promise of equality collides with massive disparities of power, education, status and property ownership.

Cultural inequality is not grounded in race or ethnicity.

Ordinary people understand that the rich and powerful bully the poor and meek.

I learnt a hard fact: that dignity is a luxury in our country.

I think, unfortunately, we've always lived in a world of massive inequality: inequality between the haves and the have-nots, inequality between men and women that not only exists temporally but geographically as well.

I don't have general views about anything, except social injustice.

Men feel that cruelty to the poor is a kind of cruelty to animals. They never feel that it is an injustice to equals; nay it is treachery to comrades.