--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the main lessons I have learned…" description: "\"One of the main lessons I have learned the last five years as Secretary-General is that the United Nations cannot function properly without the support..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ban-ki-moon-1778_business_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-t_1809235.jpg" --- # One of the main lessons I have learned the last five years… ![“One of the main lessons I have learned the last five years as Secretary-General is that the United Nations cannot function properly without the support of the business community and civil society. We need to have tripartite support - the governments, the business communities and the civil society.” quote by Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ban-ki-moon-1778_business_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-t_1809235.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ban-ki-moon-1778_business_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-t_1809235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/ban-ki-moon-1778_business_one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-t_1809235.jpg) > “One of the main lessons I have learned the last five years as Secretary-General is that the United Nations cannot function properly without the support of the business community and civil society. We need to have tripartite support - the governments, the business communities and the civil society.” [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective UN action requires collaboration among governments, businesses, and civil society. **In simple terms:** UN needs all three sectors working together. Key Takeaway Foster partnerships across sectors. Themes cooperation governance civil society business global issues Mood optimistic determined formal Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - policy development - humanitarian aid - climate initiatives - development projects - conflict resolution Key Concepts multistakeholder governance public‑private partnership Questions to Reflect On - How can each sector maintain its identity while collaborating? - What incentives encourage business involvement? A Different Perspective Balancing diverse interests can slow decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-community/) [Civil society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-society/) [Communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communities/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [United nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-nations/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/one-of-the-main-lessons-i-have-learned-during-my-five-years-as/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We need to support the governments of the world to create the world we want and I also think we need to empower the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-gilley/we-need-to-support-the-governments-of-the-world-to-create-the-world/) [Jeremy Gilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-gilley/) > [I grew up in war and saw the United Nations help my country to recover and rebuild. That experience was a big part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-grew-up-in-war-and-saw-the-united-nations-help-my-country-to/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/from-the-beginning-of-my-time-as-secretary-general-i-have-sought-to/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/gender-equality-and-women-s-empowerment-have-been-a-top-priority-for/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Since I became Secretary-General, five years ago, I have seen youth participate at the United Nations as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/since-i-became-secretary-general-five-years-ago-i-have-seen-youth/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/as-i-prepare-for-my-second-term-as-secretary-general-i-am-thinking/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-take-very-seriously-my-responsibility-as-secretary-general-to-make/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Governments, the investor and business community, and civil society organizations and public representatives need to work together to ensure the necessary foundations are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/governments-the-investor-and-business-community-and-civil-society/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Women hold up more than half the sky and represent much of the world's unrealized potential. They are the educators. They raise the children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/women-hold-up-more-than-half-the-sky-and-represent-much-of-the-world/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Indeed, it is a common goal to create a stronger United Nations able to meet the multitude of expectations placed upon it. To that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-lajcak/indeed-it-is-a-common-goal-to-create-a-stronger-united-nations-able/) [Miroslav Lajcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-lajcak/) > [I would say I need two things: the first one is to be objective in every statement he could make regarding any conflict around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-would-say-i-need-two-things-the-first-one-is-to-be-objective-in/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [There is firm support in the Swedish society for the United Nations and, of course, for the Secretary-General Kofi Annan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-persson/there-is-firm-support-in-the-swedish-society-for-the-united-nations/) [Goran Persson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-persson/) > [If the U.N. secretary-general withdraws the inspectors from Baghdad ... this means that the secretary-general has abandoned its own responsibility in maintaining peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/if-the-u-n-secretary-general-withdraws-the-inspectors-from-baghdad/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) ## More by Ban Ki-moon > [Planet Earth is our shared island, let us join forces to protect it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/planet-earth-is-our-shared-island-let-us-join-forces-to-protect-it/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [My observation is China is thinking more as a global player than regionally, in both politics and economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/my-observation-is-china-is-thinking-more-as-a-global-player-than/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [With her courage and determination, Malala has shown what terrorists fear most: a girl with a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/with-her-courage-and-determination-malala-has-shown-what-terrorists/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We must follow the wisdom of the Brundtland Report. We must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-must-follow-the-wisdom-of-the-brundtland-report-we-must-pursue/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We have reached a new milestone as a human family. With seven billion of us now inhabiting our planet, it is time to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-have-reached-a-new-milestone-as-a-human-family-with-seven-billion/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Grave security concerns can arise as a result of demographic trends, chronic poverty, economic inequality, environmental degradation, pandemic diseases, organized crime, repressive governance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/grave-security-concerns-can-arise-as-a-result-of-demographic-trends/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Some might complain that nuclear disarmament is little more than a dream. But that ignores the very tangible benefits disarmament would bring for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/some-might-complain-that-nuclear-disarmament-is-little-more-than-a/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/on-this-international-day-for-the-abolition-of-slavery-let-us/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone's responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/achieving-gender-equality-requires-the-engagement-of-women-and-men/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Three decades into this crisis, let us set our sights on achieving the "three zeros" zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/three-decades-into-this-crisis-let-us-set-our-sights-on-achieving-the/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Businesses succeed when societies themselves succeed. When countries are affected by violence and the absence of the rule of law, business can and must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/businesses-succeed-when-societies-themselves-succeed-when-countries/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [New York is one of the greatest cities in the world. It is a fitting host to its many international visitors, who can come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/new-york-is-one-of-the-greatest-cities-in-the-world-it-is-a-fitting/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) [Explore all 209 Ban Ki-moon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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