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Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman Quotes

Activist

Marian Wright Edelman is a prominent American civil rights activist and lawyer, born on June 6, 1939. She has dedicated her life to advocating for children's rights and social justice, particularly through the establishment of the Children's Defense Fund in 1973. Edelman's work has had a significant impact on the lives of millions of children in the United States.

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Famous Marian Wright Edelman Quotes

“Don't count out Marian Wright Edelman, because there is talk that President Clinton may want to shock the nation by putting a real black on the Supreme Court.”

Want May Real Nations Black President Court Clinton Supreme Shock Supreme Court President Clinton

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“It is a spiritually impoverished nation that permits infants and children to be the poorest Americans.”

Children Nations Poverty United States Permit Infant Poorest

Book:The Measure of our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours

Source: The Measure of our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours

“Homeless shelters, child hunger, and child suffering have become normalized in the richest nation on earth. It's time to reset our moral compass and redefine how we measure success.”

Children Earth Suffering Nations Moral Hunger Shelter Homeless Compass Measure Of Success Reset Moral Compass

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“God, please help us remember that all the darkness in the world cannot snuff out the light of one little candle. Help us to keep lighting our little candles until a mighty torch of justice sweeps our nation and the world.”

World Littles Helping Light Remember Nations Justice Darkness Please Candle Lighting Torches Snuff

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“We're a violent nation, and we need to confront it. This gun plague has to stop.”

Needs Nations Gun Violent Plague

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“Never work just for money. Money alone won't save your soul or build a decent family life or help you sleep at night. We're the richest nation on Earth, with the highest number of imprisoned people in the world. Our drug addictions and child poverty are among the highest in the industrialized world. So don't ever confuse wealth or fame with character.”

“We are not going to deal with the violence in our communities, our homes, and our nation, until we learn to deal with the basic ethic of how we resolve our disputes and to place an emphasis on peace in the way we relate to one another.”

Way Home Humanity Nations Peace Community Deals Violence Ethics Relate Resolve Resolution Emphasis Disputes Our Community Interdependence

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation.”

Needs Enough Nations Justice Dog Injustice Committed African American Uncomfortable Serving Others Fleas Biting

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“A nation that does not stand for its children does not stand for anything and will not stand tall in the future.”

Children Doe Nations Tall

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

“The challenge of social justice is to evoke a sense of community that we need to make our nation a better place, just as we make it a safer place.”

Needs Nations Social Peace Community Challenges Justice Social Justice Better Place Evoke

Author:Marian Wright Edelman

About the Author

Born: June 6, 1939
Known for: Activist
Quotes: 175

Related Topics

Children People Ifs Parent Black Community Trying World America Helping African American Care Nations Thinking Inspirational Action Adults Enough Giving Justice

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Books & Sources

The Measure of our Success: A Letter to My Children and YoursRelated source material

Families in Peril: An Agenda for Social ChangeRelated source material

Lanterns: A Memoir of MentorsRelated source material

Dream Me Home Safely: Writers on Growing Up in America – Intimate Essays on Diverse ChildhoodsRelated source material

Guide My FeetRelated source material

Japan & the U.S.: where are we today?Related source material

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