“Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.”

“Human passions have mysterious ways, in children as well as grown-ups. Those affected by them can’t explain them, and those who haven’t known them have no understanding of them at all.”

“Favor and honor sometimes fall more fitly on those who do not desire them.”

“Revolutionary movements attract those who are not good enough for established institutions as well as those who are too good for them.”

“They would receive the same care and attention as those who belong to the establishment. Nor will there be any distinction made between the children of those parents who are deemed the worst, and of those who may be esteemed the best members of society: indeed I would prefer to receive the offspring of the worst, if they shall be sent at an early age; because they really require more of our care and pity and by well-training these, society will be more essentially benefited than if the like attention were paid to those whose parents are educating them in comparatively good habits.”

“Those honor nature well, who teach that she can speak on everything.”

“Fight only in direst need
Not for lust or petty greed
Honor those that do give birth
Respect them well for their full worth”

“This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change. I am here to stand up for their rights, raise their voice … it is not time to pity them. It is time to take action so it becomes the last time that we see a child deprived of education.”

“When children are loved, they live off trust; their bides and hearts open up to those who respect and love them, who understand and listen to them.”

“It was the old New York way of taking life "without effusion of blood": the way of people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes," except the behaviour of those who gave rise to them.”