Wangari Maathai

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does."

"The capacity to mitigate climate change exists right now."

"You must transform your pain into something meaningful."

"I want to plant a tree so that when I pass, I can leave the world a little better."

"Freedom is not an external goal to be achieved, it's an internal state of mind."

"Our lives are not given a meaning at birth. We have to create that meaning through the choices we make."

"The struggle is my life. I will continue until I breathe my last."

"You cannot protect the environment unless you change your mode of thinking."

"We must be willing to challenge the system that oppresses us."

"Hope is the belief that the future can be better than the past."

"If you cannot protect yourself, you cannot protect the planet."

"We are stewards of this planet, not its owners."

"The more you know, the more you are responsible."

"We must learn to live as if our lives matter."

"You must be willing to stand alone sometimes."

"The future is not predetermined. It is created by our choices today."

"We have been called to be reformers, not just commentators."

"Love is the most powerful force for change."

"You cannot give what you do not have."

"The difference between us is often a matter of circumstance."

"We are all responsible for the quality of the air we breathe."

"Peace begins with accepting responsibility for our actions."

"You must learn to see the world through the eyes of others."

"Every action has a consequence, and we must be willing to face them."

"We are called to be builders of peace."

"The most important battle is the one within yourself."

"You cannot live a meaningful life without commitment."

"We must plant the seeds of change in the hearts and minds of people."

"Hope is the oxygen of the soul."

"You are never too old to plant a tree."