People Quotes by Wangari Maathai

There will always be people who think that you have ambitions.

— Wangari Maathai

Sometimes we become bound by other people's thoughts because we are not sure about ourselves.

— Wangari Maathai

The little grassroots people can change this world.

— Wangari Maathai

You can educate people on how to preempt their own conflict.

— Wangari Maathai

Quite often when you help poor people, they don't think about the environment. They think about survival.

— Wangari Maathai

I'm sure that many people who are involved in an environmental effort ... they will be pretty much encouraged by this recognition.

— Wangari Maathai

The issue of carbon is one area where we really need to work together and if people don't have the technology they…

— Wangari Maathai

What I am trying to say is that they need to learn to rely on themselves and to learn from other people,…

— Wangari Maathai

What a friend we have in a tree, the tree is the symbol of hope, self improvement and what people can do…

— Wangari Maathai

Do not be naive. AIDS is not a curse from God to Africans or the black people. It is a tool to…

— Wangari Maathai

What people see as fearlessness is really persistence. Because I am focused on the solution, I don't see the danger.

— Wangari Maathai

You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their…

— Wangari Maathai

I knew that I was not doing anything wrong, and I knew in my mind I was doing the right thing. I…

— Wangari Maathai

There are certain areas where foreign investors can help the local people to generate wealth, and improve their quality of life. Some…

— Wangari Maathai

Education, if it means anything, should not take people away from the land, but instill in them even more respect for it,…

— Wangari Maathai

After Hurricane Katrina, many people said that the levees were not as effective as the natural vegetation that had been removed at…

— Wangari Maathai

Now when Nile perch was introduced [into Lake Victoria], I don't think enough research was done; maybe it was done, maybe it…

— Wangari Maathai

I stand before you and the world humbled by this recognition and uplifted by the honour of being the 2004 Nobel Peace…

— Wangari Maathai

One of the reasons why I've written The Challenge for Africa is to save it. Surely there are so many problems we…

— Wangari Maathai

Education is a very empowering experience, so many people who went to school also managed to improve their quality of life much…

— Wangari Maathai

The issue of climate change, it really does bring home the fact that we are on one planet, and that some of…

— Wangari Maathai

I have seen a lot of men, for example, who will make a will and include their daughters whether they are married…

— Wangari Maathai

It is very important for young people not to be afraid of engaging in areas that are not common to the youth.…

— Wangari Maathai

I know there is pain when sawmills close and people lose jobs, but we have to make a choice. We need water…

— Wangari Maathai

We do the right thing not to please people but because it's the only logically reasonable thing to do, as long as…

— Wangari Maathai

People are dynamic. They change, and soon as there are enough of you, things change [for a whole society].

— Wangari Maathai

The people are starving. They need food; they need medicine; they need education. They do not need a skyscraper to house the…

— Wangari Maathai

I was particularly talking with respect to aid, because that to me is one area that can make people so dependent, and…

— Wangari Maathai

Human rights are not things that are put on the table for people to enjoy. These are things you fight for and…

— Wangari Maathai

When people can't use you, they ridicule what you represent. I was lucky that I understood that, because when one does not…

— Wangari Maathai

Once people see that you improve you life if you are educated, then education becomes a valuable tool and people want it.

— Wangari Maathai

All through the ages the African people have made efforts to deliver themselves from oppressive forces.

— Wangari Maathai

The people are learning that you cannot leave decisions only to leaders. Local groups have to create the political will for change,…

— Wangari Maathai

Every one of us can make a contribution. And quite often we are looking for the big things and forget that, wherever…

— Wangari Maathai

I'm sure the government of Qatar is not coming in to grow food for the people of Kenya; it's coming to grow…

— Wangari Maathai

I think [GMO] is one area where the is a need for legal regulations to make sure that companies - because at…

— Wangari Maathai

You have to know yourself, and that once you know yourself, then you cannot be bound by - because sometimes we are…

— Wangari Maathai

People need open space. People need to bring their children into an area where they can play without restriction." And I was…

— Wangari Maathai

What is really important is to educate people how to protect themselves and how to ensure that, despite their poverty, they can…

— Wangari Maathai

You cannot blame the mismanagement of the economy or the fact that we have not invested adequately in education in order to…

— Wangari Maathai