"The ballot is stronger than the bullet." - Abraham Lincoln, 1856
Lincoln meant that voting and democracy are more powerful ways to bring change than using violence.
"Every election is determined by the people who show up." - Larry J. Sabato, 2014
Sabato is saying that voting really matters, and the outcomes depend on who takes the time to vote.
"Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it." - Susan B. Anthony, 1872
Anthony fought for women's rights to vote, reminding us not to waste the opportunity that was hard-won.
"Voting is not only our right—it is our power." - Loung Ung, 2005
Ung, a human rights activist, highlights that voting gives people the power to shape their government.
"Democracy is not just the right to vote, it is the right to live in dignity." - Naomi Klein, 2001
Klein connects democracy to dignity, emphasizing that it's about more than voting; it's about respecting each other.
"The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened." - John F. Kennedy, 1963
Kennedy is saying that when one person's rights are not respected, it affects everyone's rights.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King Jr., 1963
Dr. King believed that unfair treatment of anyone undermines justice for everyone.
"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." - Martin Luther King Jr., 1963
Dr. King is explaining that people who are treated unfairly must stand up for themselves because those in power won't just offer them their rights.
"Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts." - Barbara Gittings, 1972
Gittings, an LGBTQ+ rights activist, believed that true equality is achieved when society as a whole believes in it, not just through laws.
"The essence of democracy is its assurance that every human being should so respect himself and be so respected in his own personality that he should have opportunity equal to that of every other human being to show what he was meant to become." - Anna Garlin Spencer, 1920
Spencer highlights that democracy is about giving everyone the chance to be their best selves, respected by all.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi, 1910
Gandhi suggests that helping others is a powerful way to discover more about who you are.
"Everybody can be great because anybody can serve." - Martin Luther King Jr., 1968
Dr. King is saying that you don't need to be famous or powerful to do great things; serving others makes you great.
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth." - Muhammad Ali, 1978
Ali believed that helping others is not just a nice thing to do, but a responsibility we all have.
"Democracy is not a spectator sport." - Lotte Scharfman, 1970s
Scharfman is emphasizing that democracy requires active participation, not just watching from the sidelines.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill, 1940s
Churchill is distinguishing between the material benefits of work and the deeper satisfaction that comes from giving to others.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr., 1965
Dr. King encourages young people to speak up about important issues, suggesting silence is a form of giving up.
"You're never too young to lead." - Greta Thunberg, 2018
Thunberg, a teenage climate activist, insists that young people have the power and responsibility to lead change.
"Change is never made without inconvenience, even from worse to better." - Richard Hooker, 1597
Hooker, an English theologian, acknowledges that making change happen is hard but it's worth it.
"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito." - Dalai Lama, 2000s
The Dalai Lama humorously suggests that even the smallest actions (or creatures) can have a big impact.
"I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard." - Malala Yousafzai, 2013
Malala, a young advocate for girls' education, speaks out not for herself, but to give a voice to those who can't speak for themselves.
"No matter what you look like, where you come from, you can make it. You can do anything you want, you can be anything you want." - Zendaya, 2017
Zendaya encourages everyone to believe in themselves and their dreams, no matter their background.
"Together, we can inspire galaxies of greatness for generations to come." - Amanda Gorman, 2021
Gorman, a young poet, talks about the power of working together to create a better future for everyone.
"Every single person has the power to change the world and help people." - Laura Marano, 2018
Marano reminds us that everyone has the ability to make a positive impact on the world and help others.
"It only takes one person, and one act of kindness, to inspire others and create change." - Justin Bieber, 2011
Bieber suggests that kindness is contagious and one good deed can inspire many more, leading to change.
"We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already." - Emma Watson, 2014
Watson, speaking on gender equality, emphasizes that we all have the power within us to create change.
"If you have a voice, use it. If you have legs, stand up. If you have feet, step up. If you have each other, fight together." - Yara Shahidi, 2018
Shahidi encourages everyone to use whatever resources they have to stand up for what they believe in, together.
"I want to be a voice for those who don't have one." - Millie Bobby Brown, 2018
Brown, known for her acting, wants to use her fame to speak up for people who can't speak for themselves.
"My generation has the power to change the world." - Shawn Mendes, 2019
Mendes believes in the strength and potential of his generation to bring about global change.
"Being different might feel like a problem at the moment, but it's actually a superpower." - Billie Eilish, 2020
Eilish talks about the strength found in embracing what makes you unique, turning perceived weaknesses into strengths.
"Change starts with us. And if we all put a little bit of effort in, we can make a big difference." - Finn Wolfhard, 2017
Wolfhard, an actor, emphasizes the collective power of individuals making small efforts to bring about big changes.
"You are never too young to care about the world around you." - Auli'i Cravalho, 2016
Cravalho encourages young people to start caring about and engaging with the world's issues, no matter their age.
"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life'." - Malala Yousafzai, 2014
Malala, advocating for education and women's rights, differentiates between merely surviving and truly living with purpose.
"Our generation knows that the lines dividing us only bring us down and we're ready to erase them." - Camila Cabello, 2018
Cabello speaks on the power of her generation to overcome divisions and unite for a common purpose.
"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." - Chloe Grace Moretz, 2012
Moretz motivates others to have faith in themselves and their inner strength to overcome challenges.
"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan, performed by young actors, 1904
Though not a quote from a young actor, this timeless line from "Peter Pan" has been brought to life by countless young performers over the years, inspiring generations to believe in their dreams and the power of imagination.