Mary E. Pearson Quotes

I see the energy of young people as a real force for positive change.

The more youth begin to recognize that they have a voice, the more change is possible.

I don't know about the world, but I know kids. And I feel like sometimes kids don't get involved because they think, what can I do? I'm just a kid. And really kids can do so much.

It is easy to overlook the importance of the young in underdeveloped countries. It is the natural course for nations, and diplomats, and those who publish newspapers, to speak to the established order. Seeking out the young requires a conscious effort.

It's always been young people at the forefront of any revolution.

Most organizations see young people as problems to be solved. We see young people as problem-solvers.

Since I became Secretary-General, five years ago, I have seen youth participate at the United Nations as never before.

I want to be able to talk about changing the world through your actions and being a generation that is aware and a force to be reckoned with - and at the same time be dancing.

Pop culture is a reflection of social change, not a cause of social change.

Culture does matter, but politics can change culture.

The Chinese move very slowly. Our customs are so fixed that it takes much time to change them.

I just think it's crazy that we don't think that the youth are valid. They're the ones who really know what's going on.

We should entrust our young people with a voice to express their views on what their futures should look like.

Creating deep and meaningful change in this country takes time - years and sometimes decades.

I decided to use my social media to inspire changes in the younger population.

Teenagers have a legitimate voice. We deserve to have a seat at the table and a place in the conversation. We're not exempt from politics and social movements; we're affected by them.

Give young people a greater voice. They are the future and they are much wiser than we give them credit for.

When they [young people] believe they are the difference! That their voice matters and to use the incredible power each one of them has. I work with an amazing young man, Jaylen Arnold, who started a foundation and a movement to educate people about tolerance and to stop bullying when he was eight years old. He never ceases to inspire me.

I've seen young people raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix a problem in their community. I've seen young people raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to dig wells in Africa. I've seen young people pass laws, largely impacting their communities. They do have the power to change the world.

The task of youth is not only its own salvation but the salvation of those against whom it rebels.

It is the duty of youth to bring fresh new powers to bear on Social progress. Each generation of young people should be to the world like a vast reserve force to a tired army. They should life the world forward. That is what they are for.

Politicians, they give the visible aspect of the change, but the change, the root, the anchor are in young people.

... the young people are the ones who most quickly identify with the struggle and the necessity to eliminate the evil conditions that exist.

I believe that the only true agents of change on a large scale, in this country or anywhere, are young people.

We need young people to be involved, and we have to expect that young people are going to be impatient, they don't want to wait, and they've got new ideas and new ways of looking at problems.