--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any society that does not succeed in…" description: "\"Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.\" — Kofi Annan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png" --- # Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the… ![“Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png) > “Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.” [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that societies ignoring youth energy and creativity will fall behind, stressing the importance of empowering younger generations. **In simple terms:** Ignore youth, fall behind. Key Takeaway Invest in young people’s ideas. Themes youth empowerment innovation future societal progress Mood optimistic strategic Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - school programs - startup incubators - civic engagement Key Concepts economics education policy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance youth and experience? - What policies best harness youthful creativity? A Different Perspective May overlook experience of elders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [We need to harness the boundless energy and creativity of our youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/we-need-to-harness-the-boundless-energy-and-creativity-of-our-youth/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [Youth is still where you left it, and that's where it should stay. Anything that was worth taking on life's journey, you'll already have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/youth-is-still-where-you-left-it-and-that-s-where-it-should-stay/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Society can and does execute its own mandates: and if it issues wrong mandates instead of right, or any mandates at all in things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/society-can-and-does-execute-its-own-mandates-and-if-it-issues-wrong/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [But our society does not grant nontraditional forms of intelligence equal recognition, no matter how much it would help us get along or truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-vinge/but-our-society-does-not-grant-nontraditional-forms-of-intelligence/) [Joan D. Vinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-vinge/) > [We think that we have to do so many things and it's unfortunate, entire modern society is besotted with the do-ables, we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-tiwari/we-think-that-we-have-to-do-so-many-things-and-it-s-unfortunate/) [Maya Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-tiwari/) > [Never categorize yourself: Society does that to you, ..don't do it to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/never-categorize-yourself-society-does-that-to-you-don-t-do-it-to/) [Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/) > [The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-test-of-the-morality-of-a-society-is-what-it-does-for-its-children/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Advertising reflects the mores of society, but it does not influence them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/advertising-reflects-the-mores-of-society-but-it-does-not-influence/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [Society does not exist for itself, but for the individual; and man goes into it, not to lose, but to find himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/society-does-not-exist-for-itself-but-for-the-individual-and-man-goes/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [It is a fact that, in the West, we live in a capitalist society, but that does not mean that we cannot be guided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/it-is-a-fact-that-in-the-west-we-live-in-a-capitalist-society-but/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [I can imagine no society which does not embody some method of arbitration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/i-can-imagine-no-society-which-does-not-embody-some-method-of/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [If individuality has no play, society does not advance; if individuality breaks out of all bounds, society perishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/if-individuality-has-no-play-society-does-not-advance-if/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [I thought society would do the right thing. Now I look around and I think -- society never does the right thing. Sometimes people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/i-thought-society-would-do-the-right-thing-now-i-look-around-and-i/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [We should all expect to be able to die with comfort, dignity and love. Our society does not lack the wealth to realise this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/we-should-all-expect-to-be-able-to-die-with-comfort-dignity-and-love/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [The measure of a society is not only what it does but the quality of its aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-davis/the-measure-of-a-society-is-not-only-what-it-does-but-the-quality-of/) [Wade Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-davis/) ## More by Kofi Annan > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/you-will-recall-that-for-months-after-9-11-there-was-incredible/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Some have suggested that ideally there must be some international body that would treat areas like the Arctic as a global commerce, a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/some-have-suggested-that-ideally-there-must-be-some-international/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. 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What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-question-is-the-morning-after-what-sort-of-iraq-do-we-wake-up-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I laugh a lot inside and outside, and at myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/i-laugh-a-lot-inside-and-outside-and-at-myself-sometimes/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/can-the-state-which-represents-the-whole-of-society-and-has-the-duty/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As long as inequality and other social problems plague us, populists will try to exploit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/as-long-as-inequality-and-other-social-problems-plague-us-populists/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The young and dynamic and idealistic people in the square do not have the chance to organise themselves politically, to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-young-and-dynamic-and-idealistic-people-in-the-square-do-not-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) [Explore all 366 Kofi Annan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. 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If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kofi Annan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tapping-into-the-energy-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tapping-into-the-energy-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/kofi-annan-799_behinds_any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tap_2656312.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.” — Kofi Annan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kofi Annan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Any society that does not succeed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tapping-into-the-energy-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/any-society-that-does-not-succeed-in-tapping-into-the-energy-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```