--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When our mothers are alive and healthy…" description: "\"When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png" --- # When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do… ![“When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children... or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed…” quote by Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png) > “When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children... or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed only with T-shirts and courage.” [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mothers can become powerful agents of resistance, using personal courage to confront oppression and demand truth. **In simple terms:** Mothers can fight oppression with courage. Key Takeaway Support and amplify mothers' voices in justice movements. Themes courage activism maternal strength human rights political resistance Mood determined inspiring Type activist historical When to use this quote - human rights campaigns - peace protests - community organizing Key Concepts social movements collective action maternal agency Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect activist mothers? - What resources empower mothers in conflict? A Different Perspective Mothers may face severe retaliation and personal risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Extraordinary things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-things/) [Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayo/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Whereabouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whereabouts/) ## Related quotes > [The truth is that no matter how old we are, as long as our mothers are alive, we want our mother. And it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldie-hawn/the-truth-is-that-no-matter-how-old-we-are-as-long-as-our-mothers-are/) [Goldie Hawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldie-hawn/) > [“ascertain the whereabouts of the Pretender’s son and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-brannan/ascertain-the-whereabouts-of-the-pretender-s-son-and/) Julia Brannan > [I swore under oath with the government not to give the whereabouts of my location.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/i-swore-under-oath-with-the-government-not-to-give-the-whereabouts-of/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) > [The regime of control tightens inexorably in our schools, many of which now have video cameras, police patrols, chain-link fences, random unannounced locker searches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-regime-of-control-tightens-inexorably-in-our-schools-many-of/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Well I've got to get out of the rat-race now I'm tired of the ways of mice and men And the empires all turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/well-i-ve-got-to-get-out-of-the-rat-race-now-i-m-tired-of-the-ways-of/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [The fact that television and tourism have made the whole world accessible has created the illusion that we enjoy intimate knowledge of other places,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/the-fact-that-television-and-tourism-have-made-the-whole-world/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I never stress about his whereabouts. Never concerned about hoes I hear about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-stress-about-his-whereabouts-never-concerned-about-hoes-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our thoughts, feelings and whereabouts: Food we dish up on plates called photographs and status updates; to feed Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.; beasts with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/our-thoughts-feelings-and-whereabouts-food-we-dish-up-on-plates/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because love is dangerous, insecure… And nobody knows where love will lead. It is just like a cloud - moving with no destination. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-love-is-dangerous-insecure-and-nobody-knows-where-love-will/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Liverpool's grand opera also gave us some light comedy - on hearing the news that the house of goalkeeper Pepe Reina was burgled, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-lynch/liverpool-s-grand-opera-also-gave-us-some-light-comedy-on-hearing-the/) [Declan Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-lynch/) > [I was sort of retired, you could say. During that process, I was recording here and there. I put out several songs expressing myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-sunshine/i-was-sort-of-retired-you-could-say-during-that-process-i-was/) [Tony Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-sunshine/) > [Go to Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, or any college and you'll see libraries, dormitories, and a lot of buildings that were a result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/go-to-cleveland-clinic-mayo-clinic-or-any-college-and-you-ll-see/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) > [The Mayo Clinic is one of the largest and most experienced medical centers treating esophageal cancer in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmon-killebrew/the-mayo-clinic-is-one-of-the-largest-and-most-experienced-medical/) [Harmon Killebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmon-killebrew/) > [For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/for-children-diversity-needs-to-be-real-and-not-merely-relegated-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Cinco de Mayo is an important day. The Mexicans had to defend themselves from the French. It is historically significant, but it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuno-becker/cinco-de-mayo-is-an-important-day-the-mexicans-had-to-defend/) [Kuno Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kuno-becker/) ## More by Liya Kebede > [The world needs our mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/the-world-needs-our-mothers/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [While I was pregnant, I had dozens of checkups. They covered everything from blood tests to ultrasounds, and I even had the option of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/while-i-was-pregnant-i-had-dozens-of-checkups-they-covered-everything/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [Midwives and doctors play a crucial role preventing unnecessary maternal deaths. They educate women about nutrition, health and family planning. And they step in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/midwives-and-doctors-play-a-crucial-role-preventing-unnecessary/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [I am always touched when friends make contributions to my foundation on my behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/i-am-always-touched-when-friends-make-contributions-to-my-foundation/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [Helping others isn't a chore; it is one of the greatest gifts there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/helping-others-isn-t-a-chore-it-is-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-there-is/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [We should work to guarantee that there is a midwife or health worker by every woman's side during childbirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/we-should-work-to-guarantee-that-there-is-a-midwife-or-health-worker/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [My children are still young, but I try to talk to them about giving back and how important it is, just to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/my-children-are-still-young-but-i-try-to-talk-to-them-about-giving/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [It's not just Ethiopia, but Africa in general - most of the media concentrates on what's not going well. But there is so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/it-s-not-just-ethiopia-but-africa-in-general-most-of-the-media/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [I've been told the best way to make a sexy face is to say 'pruuune.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/i-ve-been-told-the-best-way-to-make-a-sexy-face-is-to-say-pruuune/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [Creative new health strategies like micro-insurance for poor people or Kangaroo care for pre-term babies are transforming health outcomes in even the most low-resource…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/creative-new-health-strategies-like-micro-insurance-for-poor-people/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [I think you should really research your cause, see if there are other people who are already doing the same thing you're doing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/i-think-you-should-really-research-your-cause-see-if-there-are-other/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [In 1967, the world health community launched a global effort to eradicate smallpox. It took a coordinated, worldwide effort, required the commitment of every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/in-1967-the-world-health-community-launched-a-global-effort-to/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [If you don't have a dream in life, I don't know what you have. You have to want something beyond your reach; it's exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/if-you-don-t-have-a-dream-in-life-i-don-t-know-what-you-have-you-have/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [No other health disparity is so stark; virtually every woman who dies giving birth lives in a poor country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/no-other-health-disparity-is-so-stark-virtually-every-woman-who-dies/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [I can contribute, be valuable, and grow in many ways, since my interests are so varied. That is very satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/i-can-contribute-be-valuable-and-grow-in-many-ways-since-my-interests/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) [Explore all 63 Liya Kebede quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children... or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed only with T-shirts and courage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Liya Kebede" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-they-do-extraordinary-things/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-they-do-extraordinary-things/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/342/liya-kebede-10762_alive_when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-t_1798823.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo…” — Liya Kebede", "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": "Liya Kebede", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When our mothers are alive and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-they-do-extraordinary-things/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/when-our-mothers-are-alive-and-healthy-they-do-extraordinary-things/#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 } } ] } ```