Marian Wright Edelman Quotes

If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about.

Giving back, doing motivational speeches and stuff like that, that's always made me feel good. If you repeatedly go out there, and you are the change that you want to see, then that's what you are.

Transformed people transform people.

We lack role models who can inspire our young people to make change.

Young people need models, not critics.

The three greatest people in my life were white, OK. My high school coach, my high school superintendent and my mentor in Manhasset, Long Island.

That would be great if I could be a role model or inspiration to those who have been in my shoes before.

We are all role models to someone in this world, and we can all have an impact - for good.

I certainly feel my career was a great career because it inspired so many many people, literally hundreds of people to follow a new kind of life and to realize that they could make out and advance their own professional and private and social lives.

I was on Oprah's show recently talking about the people who impacted me the most. One was a teacher and one was my soccer coach. I didn't even go into my family, who had the most influence.

I hope to inspire people, influence people.

The first time someone called me a role model, I remember thinking, 'What does that mean?' But I feel aware of it when I'm reading scripts.

Help young people. Help small guys. Because small guys will be big. Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds, and when they grow up, they will change the world.

We need role models who are going to break the mold.

I'm all for having an empowered first lady who can really use that position to improve conditions, be a role model and make change.

I want to be a role model.

Our young people look up to us. Let us not let them down. Our young people need us. Saving them will make heroes of us all.

A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.

I fell in love with coaching. I loved interacting with young people, having the opportunity to make a tremendous impression on them.

I want to be someone who can be a role model to kids - and to everyone, for that matter.

Mentorship is critical for young people. Mentorship by others for my children is very high on my agenda.

Children have more need of models than of critics.

I was very lucky in that I had a couple of teachers who were particularly supportive.

I have stood on the shoulders of giants like Billie Jean King, Hillary Clinton, my mother - people who have really empowered and influenced my life in an incredible way.

Coaches around the country are influencing the next generation of men in a positive way.