Top 100 Ban Ki-moon Quotes
#1. In the Andes and the Alps, I have seen melting glaciers. At both of the Earth's Poles, I have seen open sea where ice once dominated the horizon.
Ban Ki-moon
#2. Whether addressing immediate crises or building long-term foundations of peace, the United Nations will remain committed to solutions that advance the global good.
Ban Ki-moon
#3. The explosion in access to mobile phones and digital services means that people everywhere are contributing vast amounts of information to the global knowledge warehouse. Moreover, they are doing so for free, just by communicating, buying and selling goods and going about their daily lives.
Ban Ki-moon
#4. Any use of chemical weapons, by anyone, under any circumstances, is a grave violation of the 1925 Protocol and other relevant rules of customary international law.
Ban Ki-moon
#5. The tragic nuclear accident at Fukushima underscored the urgent need to enhance nuclear safety and the international emergency response framework. I commend the International Atomic Energy Agency for its work.
Ban Ki-moon
#6. You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen.
Ban Ki-moon
#7. The burden for achieving disarmament cannot be borne by peace groups alone. Everybody, regardless of age, income, profession, gender or nationality, has a stake in this quest.
Ban Ki-moon
#8. Globalization is exposing new fault lines - between urban and rural communities, for example.
Ban Ki-moon
#9. On this International Day, let us promise to make peace not just a priority, but a passion. Let us pledge to do more, wherever we are in whatever way we can, to make every day a day of peace.
Ban Ki-moon
#10. Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are not utopian ideals. They are critical to global peace and security.
Ban Ki-moon
#11. All women and girls have the fundamental right to live free of violence. This right is enshrined in international human rights and humanitarian law. And it lies at the heart of my UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign.
Ban Ki-moon
#12. 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
#13. There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.
Ban Ki-moon
#14. Every child, woman and man has a right to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life.
Ban Ki-moon
#15. Although more than 500 million maritime containers move around the world each year, accounting for 90 per cent of international trade, only 2 per cent are inspected. Strengthening customs and immigration systems is essential.
Ban Ki-moon
#16. We need to bring sustainable energy to every corner of the globe with technologies like solar energy mini-grids, solar powered lights, and wind turbines.
Ban Ki-moon
#17. 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
#18. Every literate woman is a victory over poverty
Ban Ki-moon
#19. Nuclear disarmament is one of the greatest legacies we can pass on to future generations.
Ban Ki-moon
#20. My U.N. five-point plan focuses on preventing proliferation, strengthening the legal regime, and ensuring nuclear safety and security - an effort that was given good momentum by the Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul earlier this year. The world is over-armed, and peace is underfunded.
Ban Ki-moon
#21. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by landmines. They have different needs when it comes to education about risks. And they may face greater challenges when a family member is killed or injured.
Ban Ki-moon
#22. It has been said that knowledge is power. We need to strengthen education systems so that young people can benefit from cultural diversity, and not be victimized by those who exploit differences.
Ban Ki-moon
#23. Let us take advantage of the opportunities presented by climate action and lay the foundations for a more prosperous and secure future for all
Ban Ki-moon
#24. 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
#25. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March 2011 was an immense tragedy that sparked a global response. The international community came forward with aid to the victims and came together to address the broader concerns about nuclear security and safety.
Ban Ki-moon
#26. Messengers of Peace such as Midori - and our Goodwill Ambassadors, who work directly with the UN agencies - are dedicated and well-informed and credible advocates on behalf of the United Nations. They help us educate audiences worldwide and rally support on key issues of the United Nations.
Ban Ki-moon
#27. Nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children
Ban Ki-moon
#28. I have run with the Olympic Torch during the 2012 summer games in London and the 2014 winter games in Sochi.
Ban Ki-moon
#29. The United Nations has a proud record of helping millions of people in mine-affected countries.
Ban Ki-moon
#30. To measure the success of our societies, we should examine how well those with different abilities, including persons with autism, are integrated as full and valued members.
Ban Ki-moon
#31. I call for greater measures to involve more women at higher levels in mine action. Governments should do more to address gender in their mine action programmes and through their implementation of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Ban Ki-moon
#32. For my generation, coming of age at the height of the Cold War, fear of nuclear winter seemed the leading existential threat on the horizon. But the danger posed by war to all humanity-and to our planet-is at least matched by climate change.
Ban Ki-moon
#33. The Czech Republic is a dynamic United Nations Member State, active on the Human Rights Council, contributing to the peaceful settlement of disputes, and helping other countries to achieve a democratic transition.
Ban Ki-moon
#34. Schools connect children to their communities. Jobs connect adults to their societies. Persons with autism deserve to walk the same path.
Ban Ki-moon
#35. Businesses succeed when societies themselves succeed. When countries are affected by violence and the absence of the rule of law, business can and must be a messenger of peace.
Ban Ki-moon
#36. This Earth is our only home. Together, we must protect and cherish it.
Ban Ki-moon
#37. 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
#38. 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
#39. 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
#40. When I was six, the Korean War broke out, and all the classrooms were destroyed by war. We studied under the trees or in whatever buildings were left.
Ban Ki-moon
#41. I have been very encouraged by President Obama's call to action on climate change both at his Inauguration and in the State of the Union Address. This is a global imperative. I also welcome President Obama's intention to pursue reductions in nuclear arsenals.
Ban Ki-moon
#42. Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.
Ban Ki-moon
#43. Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it will need the engagement of all stakeholders - including the private sector and civil society, and especially the poor and marginalized.
Ban Ki-moon
#44. Saving our planet requires you to be ambitious in what you aim, and, equally, in how hard you work to reach your goal.
Ban Ki-moon
#45. We are using resources as if we had two planets, not one. There can be no 'plan B' because there is no 'planet B.'
Ban Ki-moon
#46. Women must be full partners in development, so they can lift themselves and their communities out of poverty.
Ban Ki-moon
#47. Climate change is, simply, the greatest collective challenge we face as a human family.
Ban Ki-moon
#48. 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
#49. We must follow the wisdom of the Brundtland Report. We must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Ban Ki-moon
#50. 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
#51. Nuclear disarmament is the only sane path to a safer world.
Ban Ki-moon
#52. 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
#53. By including children with different learning abilities in mainstream and specialized schools, we can change attitudes and promote respect. By creating suitable jobs for adults with autism, we integrate them into society.
Ban Ki-moon
#54. Defeating racism, tribalism, intolerance and all forms of discrimination will liberate us all, victim and perpetrator alike.
Ban Ki-moon
#55. Not many countries establish a prize for peace. The Seoul Peace Prize has its roots in the 1988 Summer Olympics when this country opened its doors to people and athletes from more than 160 countries. Korea did so in part because it believes in the power of sports for peace and development.
Ban Ki-moon
#56. I treasure my meetings with individuals affected by autism - parents, children, teachers and friends. Their strength is inspiring. They deserve all possible opportunities for education, employment and integration.
Ban Ki-moon
#57. The international community must offer short-term emergency measures to meet critical needs. But it must also make longer-term investments to promote food production and agricultural development, enhance food security and maintain and accelerate momentum towards the MDGs.
Ban Ki-moon
#58. Only through women's full and equal participation in all areas of public and private life can we hope to achieve the sustainable, peaceful and just society promised in the United Nations Charter,
Ban Ki-moon
#59. Pacific Islands are among those that contribute least to global warming, yet suffer most.
Ban Ki-moon
#60. Like the United Nations, there is something inspirational about New York as a great melting pot of different cultures and traditions. And if this is the city that never sleeps, the United Nations works tirelessly, around the clock around the world.
Ban Ki-moon
#61. 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
#62. Nuclear tests poison the environment - and they also poison the political climate. They breed mistrust, isolation and fear.
Ban Ki-moon
#63. As I prepare for my second term as Secretary-General, I am thinking hard about how we can meet the expectations of the millions of people who see the U.N.'s blue flag as a banner of hope. We have to continue our life-saving work in peacekeeping, human rights, development and humanitarian relief.
Ban Ki-moon
#64. The clear and present danger of climate change means we cannot burn our way to prosperity. We already rely too heavily on fossil fuels. We need to find a new, sustainable path to the future we want. We need a clean industrial revolution.
Ban Ki-moon
#65. Raising ambition in 2014 is crucial for arriving at a meaningful climate agreement in 2015.
Ban Ki-moon
#66. I strongly reject threats by any member state to destroy another or outrageous attempts to deny historical facts such as the Holocaust.
Ban Ki-moon
#67. Frankly speaking, I don't know much about rock music. But I enjoyed some when I was in college or high school. But I stopped listening after Elvis Presley!
Ban Ki-moon
#68. Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth,
increased social equity, and an environment that allows the world to thrive.
Ban Ki-moon
#69. Our work for human dignity is often lonely, and almost always an uphill climb. At times, our efforts are misunderstood, and we are mistaken for the enemy. There has been a clear erosion of respect for U.N. blue and our impartiality.
Ban Ki-moon
#70. We have a legal and moral obligation to rid our world of nuclear tests and nuclear weapons.
Ban Ki-moon
#71. When Nelson Mandela walked free, the world sang with joy. Ever since, South Africa has stood as a beacon of hope for Africa.
Ban Ki-moon
#72. 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
#73. Extreme weather events continue to grow more frequent and intense in rich and poor countries alike, not only devastating lives, but also infrastructure, institutions, and budgets - an unholy brew which can create dangerous security vacuums.
Ban Ki-moon
#74. Since I became Secretary-General, five years ago, I have seen youth participate at the United Nations as never before.
Ban Ki-moon
#75. The possibility that terrorist groups could obtain weapons of mass destruction should not be dismissed as a fiction. This is a horrific threat the international community should take seriously. As long as these weapons exist, so, too, does the risk of their use - by accident or design.
Ban Ki-moon
#76. Nuclear power plants must be prepared to withstand everything from earthquakes to tsunamis, from fires to floods to acts of terrorism.
Ban Ki-moon
#77. Personally, I do not know whether humankind is alone in this vast universe. But I do know that we should cherish our existence on this precious speck of matter ... the greatest gift that could be bestowed upon us. For all practical purposes, there is only one planet Earth.
Ban Ki-moon
#78. As many micro-credit schemes across the world can testify, investment in women is the best investment for the future.
Ban Ki-moon
#79. Terrorism is a significant threat to peace and security, prosperity and people.
Ban Ki-moon
#80. Sustainable development and climate change are two sides of the same coin
Ban Ki-moon
#81. True security is based on people's welfare - on a thriving economy, on strong public health and education programmes, and on fundamental respect for our common humanity. Development, peace, disarmament, reconciliation and justice are not separate from security; they help to underpin it.
Ban Ki-moon
#82. The good name of the United Nations is one of its most valuable assets - but also one of its most vulnerable. The Charter calls on staff to uphold the highest levels of efficiency, competence and integrity, and I will seek to ensure to build a solid reputation for living up to that standard.
Ban Ki-moon
#84. Around the world, climate change is an existential threat - but if we harness the opportunities inherent in addressing climate change, we can reap enormous economic benefits.
Ban Ki-moon
#85. As a child growing up during the Korean War, I knew poverty. I studied by candlelight.
Ban Ki-moon
#86. The United Nations is committed to ridding the world of anti-personnel landmines.
Ban Ki-moon
#87. The U.N. might not be the most luxurious place to work, but it certainly is one of the most important places in the world.
Ban Ki-moon
#88. Within the U.N. itself, I have appointed a record number of women to high-level positions. I did not fill jobs with women just for the sake of it - I looked for the best possible candidate, and I found that if you strip away discrimination, the best possible candidate is often a woman.
Ban Ki-moon
#89. The human family is at a critical juncture. The world is moving through a great transition. This transition is economic, as the digital revolution advances and as new powers and groups emerge.
Ban Ki-moon
#90. We have international standards regulating everything from t-shirts to toys to tomatoes. There are international regulations for furniture. That means there are common standards for the global trade in armchairs but not the global trade in arms.
Ban Ki-moon
#91. One of the main lessons I have learned during my five years as Secretary-General is that broad partnerships are the key to solving broad challenges. When governments, the United Nations, businesses, philanthropies and civil society work hand-in-hand, we can achieve great things.
Ban Ki-moon
#92. From the beginning of my time as Secretary-General, I have sought to advance a practical, action-oriented vision of the U.N. as the voice of the voiceless and the defender of the defenceless.
Ban Ki-moon
#93. Nuclear accidents anywhere can affect people everywhere.
Ban Ki-moon
#94. The longer we delay, the more we will pay.
Ban Ki-moon
#95. I take very seriously my responsibility as Secretary-General to make sure that the United Nations is doing everything it can to uphold the universal prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.
Ban Ki-moon
#96. I will do everything in my power to ensure that our United Nations can live up to its name, and be truly united; so that we can live up to the hopes that so many people around the world place in this institution, which is unique in the annals of human history.
Ban Ki-moon
#97. Today, we have more than 110,000 men and women deployed in conflict zones around the world. They come from nearly 120 countries ... Thanks to their efforts, life-saving humanitarian assistance can be delivered and economic development can begin.
Ban Ki-moon
#98. Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone's responsibility.
Ban Ki-moon
#99. When food prices surge, poor families suddenly find themselves unable to afford enough nutritious food. If this happens during the first thousand days of a child's life, the damage to his or her body and mind can be permanent.
Ban Ki-moon
#100. Charity plays an important role in upholding the values and advancing the work of the United Nations.
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