Kofi Annan Quotes

We are members of one great body. Nature planted in us a mutual love, and fitted us for a social life. We must consider that we were born for the good of the whole.

I think Americans generally are not used to working very hard, in terms of working for the collective. I think in our country we have taken individualism to its farthest reaches, possibly.

We hope the world will act in the spirit of enlightened self-interest.

We must learn for the sake of one another to make better choices guided by more holistic measures of the common good we share.

All People and things are interdependent. The world has become so small that no nation can solve its problems alone, in isolation from others. That is why I believe we must all cultivate a sense of responsibility based on love and compassion for each other.

Our Lord insists on the social aspect of our lives: He shows very distinctly that we cannot further ourselves alone.

Our children were trained to look after each other.

All who think cannot but see there is a sanction like that of religion which binds us in partnership in the serious work of the world.

My real dream is that everybody will see their self-interest tied up with someone else, whether or not they see them, and see that as an opportunity for growing closer together as a culture and as a world.

The problems of all of humanity can only be solved by all of humanity.

Since men are social by nature they are meant to live with others and to work for one another's welfare

I always try to remain aware that what affects others affects me, too.

The shape and solutions of the future rely totally on the collective effort of people working together. We are all an integral part of the web of life.

We must see others' struggles as our own, and their success as our success, so we can speak to our common humanity.

My hope is that the corona crisis will help bring us into a new age of cooperation and solidarity and a realization that we're in this together.

We cannot just rely on the public sector or the private sector. We all need to work together.

We must feed, shelter, and nurture one another as our first priority, and to do so, we must avail ourselves of our best technologies, which have always included some type of genetic modification.

Mankind is interdependent, and the happiness of each depends upon the happiness of all, and it is this lesson that humanity has to learn today as the first and the last lesson.

The best way to protect your own freedom is to watch everybody else's back. That's the essence of community.

We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.

One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on "going it alone." Somehow we've come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we're very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It's as if we've divided the world into "those who offer help" and "those who need help." The truth is that we are both.

In this world and the world of tomorrow, we must go forward together or not at all.

The welfare of each is bound up in the welfare of all.

How beautifully is it ordered, that as many thousands work for one, so must every individual bring his labor to make the whole! The highest is not to despise the lowest, nor the lowest to envy the highest; each must live in all and by all. Who will not work neither shall he eat. So God has ordered that men, being in need of each other, should learn to love each other, and bear each other's burdens.

When I was growing up, I never heard anyone pray, "Give me this day my daily bread." It was always, "Give us this day our daily bread." That stuck. We're all in this together.