Skip to content

Portrait of Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman

(1939) Children's Rights Activist United States

179 quotes in 961 categories

Marian Wright Edelman is a children's rights activist from the United States, best known for The measure of our success.

Quick Facts About Marian Wright Edelman

Born: June 6, 1939
Nationality: United States
Profession: Children's Rights Activist
Notable works: The measure of our success
Spouse: Peter Edelman

About Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman is an American activist for civil rights and children's rights. She is the founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund. She influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Hillary Clinton.

Biography source: Wikipedia

Awards & Honors

Presidential Medal of Freedom Thomas Merton Award MacArthur Fellows Program National Women's Hall of Fame Gandhi Peace Award Heinz Award Library of Congress Living Legend Lillian Smith Book Award

Show 5 more awards

Candace Award honorary doctor of the Ohio State University honorary doctor of the University of Miami Radcliffe Medal honorary degree from Spelman College

Quotes by Marian Wright Edelman · Page 3

I'm doing what I think I was put on this earth to do. And I'm really grateful to have something that I'm…

Marian Wright Edelman

Earth

Image

It's the new slavery. It came out of the drug laws and it really is something we're going to have to confront,…

Marian Wright Edelman

Arms

Image

Service is the rent we pay for living.

Marian Wright Edelman

Life

Image

Investing in [children] is not a national luxury or a national choice. It's a national necessity. If the foundation of your house…

Marian Wright Edelman

Building

Image

There comes a time when you roll up your sleeves and put yourself at the top of your commitment list.

Marian Wright Edelman

Commitment

Image

No time is ever wasted if you have a book along as a companion.

Marian Wright Edelman

Book

Image

Children teach us to be courageous and to stand up against injustice.

Marian Wright Edelman

Be courageous

Image

The key is that your children are aware that you love them a lot, and that you are there when they really,…

Marian Wright Edelman

Aware

Image

Dr. King used to say, 'I was sitting in the back of the bus, but my mind was always up front.' Don't…

Marian Wright Edelman

Aim

Image

Semi-automatic weapons have no socially redeeming purpose.

Marian Wright Edelman

Purpose

Image

A nation that does not stand for its children does not stand for anything and will not stand tall in the future.

Marian Wright Edelman

Children

Image

When I fight about what is going on in the neighborhood, or when I fight about what is happening to other people's…

Marian Wright Edelman

Children

Image

In 1990, when we started the Black Community Crusade for Children, we were always talking about all children, but we paid particular…

Marian Wright Edelman

Adulthood

Image

We have the capacity to make sure that every mother has pre-natal care. Yet, we don't do it. What is it about…

Marian Wright Edelman

America

Image

You're not obligated to win. You're obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.

Marian Wright Edelman

Every day

Image

Understand and be confident that each of us can make a difference by caring and acting in small as well as big…

Marian Wright Edelman

Acting

Image

We all need to get out of our safety zones too. In addition to voting, we need to embarrass people who don't…

Marian Wright Edelman

Action

Image

Education remains one of the black community's most enduring values. It is sustained by the belief that freedom and education go hand…

Marian Wright Edelman

Belief

Image

Never let us confuse what is legal with what is right. Everything Hitler did in Nazi Germany was legal, but it was…

Marian Wright Edelman

Ethics

Image

If we think we have ours and don't owe any time or money or effort to help those left behind, then we…

Marian Wright Edelman

Effort

Image

Don't wait for, expect, or rely on favors. Count on earning them by hard work and perseverance.

Marian Wright Edelman

Earning

Image

We must serve consciously as caring role models, emphasizing the ethic of service, not consumption.

Marian Wright Edelman

African american

Image

The legacies that parents and church and teachers left to my generation of Black children were priceless but not material: a living…

Marian Wright Edelman

Adversity

Image

You can't be what you can't see.

Marian Wright Edelman

Image

The legacy I want to leave is a child-care system that says that no kid is going to be left alone or…

Marian Wright Edelman

Care

Image

Marian Wright Edelman by topic

Children (54) People (26) Time (17) Inspirational (16) Parenting (14) Parent (14) Life (14) Community (13) World (12) Black (12) America (12) Trying (11) Education (11) Justice (10) Ifs (10)