30 World Humanitarian Day Quotes That'll Inspire You to Enact Change

World Humanitarian Day is “a global celebration of people helping people,” according to the originators of the holiday, the United Nations. This special and much-needed day is formally recognized on August 19, 2024. To get into the spirit of helping others, we put together a list of World Humanitarian Day quotes — all centered around community, aid, and uplifting one another.

Many of these quotes come from historical changemakers, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, and great writers and philosophers, such as Maya Angelou and Audre Lorde. They share inspirational messages and calls for action and paint a picture of an altruistic world focused on supporting one another.

While the official day of celebration for this holiday is August 19, its message applies to any day, month, or time of the year. If you feel inclined or called to help in humanitarian efforts, consider looking into global, national, or local organizations, such as UNICEF, the American Red Cross, or your local food bank. An extra set of hands is always welcome.

For more uplifting quotes about community, we recommend checking out positive quotes for life, Christian inspirational quotes, and Bible verses about hope.

Best Quotes for World Humanitarian Day

• "Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" — Martin Luther King, Jr.

• “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi

• "All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors — in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver." — Fred Rogers

• "Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." — Desmond Tutu

• "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." — Franklin D. Roosevelt

• "Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service." — Robert Collier

• "There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others." — Mandy Hale

Inspirational Humanitarian Day Quotes

• "A humanitarian worker is not only the person handing out assistance to people in need. Humanitarian workers are doctors, teachers, psychologists, as well as support workers — the drivers, clerks, and others who help make sure humanitarian action is timely and effective and addresses the specific needs of those affected by disasters and conflict." — Anders Pedersen

• "I think, in times where things can be so scary, so frightening, if we realize that we can pull together and we can be so much stronger together, we can accomplish so many more things when we spread love, and we care about our neighbor." — Queen Latifah

• "What made America a democracy was not just that it had elections, but that it was a society of joiners and volunteers and people who wanted constantly to be involved in making their communities better." — Barack Obama

• "When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." — Audre Lorde

• "In a society that functions optimally, those who can should naturally want to provide for those who can’t. That’s how it’s designed to work. I truly believe we’re here to take care of one another." — LeVar Burton

• "I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself, not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever, but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement." — Angela Davis

• "Even faced with the unprecedented scope and scale of challenges, humanitarian aid workers across the globe distinguished themselves through their courage, commitment, and drive to help their fellow humans in need — often at extreme personal risk to themselves." — Joe Biden

Short Humanitarian Day Quotes

• "If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one." — Mother Teresa

• “The world is more malleable than you think, and it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape.” — Bono

• “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” — Ronald Reagan

• “To say that daily, you can make a difference, well, you can. One act of kindness a day can do it.” — Betty Williams

• “Everyone can be a humanitarian. All it takes is one act to help someone else. That’s the spirit of people helping people.” — Valerie Amos, former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs

• "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." — C.S. Lewis

• "No matter what, you give everybody a fair shake, and when somebody needs a hand, you offer yours." — Michelle Obama

• "When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something." — John Lewis

Famous Humanitarian Day Quotes

• "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." — Anne Frank

• “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” — Mahatma Gandhi

• “Don’t look for big things, just do small things with great love. The smaller the thing, the greater must be our love.” — Mother Teresa

• “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

• "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees." — Amelia Earhart

• "A fundamental concern for others — in our individual and community lives — would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of." — Nelson Mandela

• "I'm convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere." — Maya Angelou

• "We can’t just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day. Love, too often, gets buried in a world of hurt and fear. We have to work to dig it out, so we can share it with our family, our friends, and our neighbors." — Dolly Parton

You Might Also Like

• Oprah’s Favorite Things Of 2022 Is Here—Gift These 20 Amazing Finds This Year

• 40 Best Sentimental Gift Ideas for Loved Ones

• Jennifer Aniston‘s Secret to Glowy Skin On-Screen