Kailash Satyarthi Quotes

"Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child's eye - it is very beautiful."

"The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, our present and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people."

"Child labor perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, and other social problems."

"Every child matters. If we fail our children, we are bound to fail our present, our future, faith, cultures, and civilisations as well."

"Every single minute matters, every single child matters, every single childhood matters."

"Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime."

"If not now, then when? If not you, then who? If we are able to answer these fundamental questions, then perhaps we can wipe away the blot of human slavery."

"I am representing here - the sound of silence. The cry of innocence. And, the face of invisibility. I represent millions of those children who are left behind, and that's why I have kept an empty chair here as a reminder."

"Let us unite the world through the compassion for our children."

"I dream for a world which is free of child labour, a world in which every child goes to school. A world in which every child gets his rights."

"The biggest challenge or biggest crisis knocking on the doors of humankind is fear and intolerance."

"I refuse to accept that the shackles of slavery can ever be stronger than the quest for freedom."

"Today it is time for every child to have a right to life, right to freedom, right to health, right to education, safety, the right to dignity, right to equality, and right to peace."

"From my own experience, I want to say that you should follow your heart, and the mind will follow you. Believe in yourself, and you will create miracles."

"I am thankful to the Nobel committee for recognising the plight of millions of children who are suffering in this modern age."

"I am really honoured, but if the prize had gone to Mahatma Gandhi before me, I would have been more honoured."

"There is a triangular relationship between poverty, child labour and illiteracy who have a cause and consequence relationship. We will have to break this vicious circle."

"Each time I free a child, I feel it is something closer to God."

"I have been very strongly advocating that poverty must not be used as an excuse to continue child labour. It perpetuates poverty. If children are deprived of education, they remain poor."

"If you keep on buying things made by child slaves in such conditions, you are equally responsible for the perpetration of slavery."

"I am positive that I would see the end of child labour around the world in my lifetime, as the poorest of the poor have realised that education is a tool that can empower them."

"I never go to temples, but when I see a child, I see God in them."

"Economic growth and human development need to go hand in hand. Human values need to be advocated vigorously."

"India may be a land of over a 100 problems, but it is also a place for a billion solutions."

"For me, peace is a fundamental human right of every child; it is inevitable and divine."

"The fight against child slavery is the fight against traditional mindset, policy deficit, and lack of accountability and urgency for children across the globe."

"Denial of childhood and denial of freedom are the biggest sins which humankind has been committing and perpetuating for ages."

"As the anti-slavery community, we must together ensure that this attention is transferred into concrete action and results."

"Today, I see thousands of Mahatma Gandhis, Martin Luther Kings, and Nelson Mandelas marching forward and calling on us. The boys and girls have joined. I have joined in. We ask you to join, too."

"I call for a march from exploitation to education, from poverty to shared prosperity, a march from slavery to liberty, and a march from violence to peace."