100 Equality Quotes to Inspire Diversity & Inclusion
While diversity exists in all societies of the world today, it’s not always followed by equality. Some don’t believe that people of all genders, races, and sexualities should have access to the same rights and opportunities as others. These people are wrong. Some find it hard to believe that there could be any form of marginalization in their societies. These people are also wrong. Our selection of equality and diversity quotes highlights both how things are changing and the importance of fair and equal rights, treatment, and opportunity for all.
The following equality quotes and diversity quotes remind us that the fight for diversity, inclusion, and equality for all is not just for the marginalized. It’s for everyone who wants to live in a fair society. And until every group can say that they feel recognized and respected, we have some work to do.
100 Inspirational Equality and Diversity Quotes
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Equality quotes related to its importance in our communities and the world
In order to be great, you just have to care. You have to care about your world, community, and equality.
Katori Hall is an American activist, playwright, and actress. Hall's awards include a Laurence Olivier Award and a Susan Smith Blackburn Award, and her play Hot Wing Drama won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2021. She is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers.
Hall's equality quote explains that to be great, you have to care for others. Doing this involves questioning your biases to reach a point where you feel no ills towards others. No judgment or assumptions.
Diversity should be forever; it should be a normal thing.
We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges.
Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee is famous for inventing the World Wide Web. He is an English engineer and computer scientist, a Professorial Fellow of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
Diversity allows a better representation of problems in our societies. We can start working on solutions when we see these issues clearly. For anyone to become diverse in their thinking, they must first expose themselves to as diverse a group of people as possible.
Berners-Lee’s equality quote points to the need for diverse thought that comes from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. With many a new challenge on the horizon, from climate change to overcoming the impacts of the pandemic, diverse thinking, talent, and ideas, we should all seek to face the future we want to create.
From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own.
~ Carl Shurz
Diversity quotes related to the richness of life
Diversity is what makes life interesting.
Khoudia Diop, popularly known as the Melanin Goddess, is a Senegalese fashion model and actress. Diop broke into the fashion industry spotlight when she was featured in a campaign for the Coloured Girl Project.
According to Diop's quote, clothes add more color to your personality, and so does diversity. Meeting new people, sharing ideas, making different products, trying various services, etc., make life more enjoyable and worth living. So get out there, spread your wings, and connect with the rest of the world.
What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.
~ Hillary Clinton
We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.
~ Maya Angelou
If you hate difference, you'll be bored to death.
~ Toba Beta
Equal opportunity for everyone
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
It's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America.
~ Billie Jean King
Our workforce and our entire economy are strongest when we embrace diversity to its fullest, and that means opening doors of opportunity to everyone and recognizing that the American Dream excludes no one.
Tom Perez is an American politician and attorney who has been chairing the Democratic National Committee (DNC) since 2017. He is a strong advocate against the discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS in America and a strong critic of racial discrimination.
Perez's diversity quote is a reflection of how countries and economies should be. It points out clearly that a country's economic strength depends on the diversity and equality of its workforce. Countries that fully embrace diversity and gender equality are hotbeds for opportunities.
Equality quotes that highlight why diversity matters
I truly believe that diversity is so important, and I hope that I can use my platform to encourage and inspire other aspiring female artists.
Regardless of what race, what color, what sex, what nationality, what sexual orientation - regardless of who you are, equality should always rule! Whatever is right for you is right. Period.
Chantelle Whitney-Brown Young, professionally known as Winnie Harlow, is a model and a spokesperson for the skin condition vitiligo. Harlow has also appeared in numerous music videos of prominent artists, such as Eminem's 'Guts over Fear' and Calvin Harris' 'Promises' (both on Amazon).
Discrimination and marginalization are the products of racism, sexism, and other baseless constructs of superiority. These beliefs have driven a wedge between members of society. Harlow’s equality quotes remind us that placing equality first will guide us toward making the right decisions.
I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant.
The goal of a just society should be to provide satisfying work with a living wage to all its citizens.
Michael Dirda is a book critic for the Washington Post and a highly respected Pulitzer Prize recipient. Dirda is an author of several publications and was awarded the 2012 Edgar Award in the Best Critical/Biographical category for his book On Conan Doyle; or, The Whole Art of Storytelling (on Amazon).
Social and racial discrimination is a dangerous tool used to marginalize those considered minorities. As a result, institutions deprive them of fundamental rights, from health to financial benefits and so much more. A just society should provide equal opportunities for all its residents, irrespective of race or gender.
"These men ask for just the same thing: fairness, and fairness only. This is, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have."
~ Abraham Lincoln
"Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't carry just a piece of cloth to symbolize his belief in racial equality; he carried the American flag."
~ Adrian Cronauer
Equality quotes celebrate our individuality.
Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.
An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
~ Martin Luther King jr
Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.
~ Jesse Jackson
We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity life would be very boring.
~ Catherine Pulsifer
Diversity in the world is a basic characteristic of human society, and also the key condition for a lively and dynamic world as we see today.
~ Jintao Hu
Ultimately, America’s answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.
~ Robert Kennedy
Equality implies individuality.
~ Trey Anastasio
When I look at a person, I see a person – not a rank, not a class, not a title.
~ Criss Jami
Diversity and inclusion in business quotes
There is a huge business case for diversity. You will be making products for people you don't understand, you don't interact with. If you don't have an inclusive, diverse workforce, it makes you myopic.
Renee James is an American technology executive and former president of chipset manufacturer Intel. James is the founder and CEO of Ampere Computing. Renee also serves as the Vice-Chair of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, which advises the President of the United States. Forbes ranked her 45th in their 100 Most Powerful Women list.
A diverse workforce is essential. As the equality and diversity facts show, it also makes for better business. The divergence in POVs and experiences fuels great ideas and offers creative options waiting for us to explore. But, if there's no engagement within the workforce, there's only a little room for productivity and improvement. This is why diversity and inclusion are vital for business and social growth.
Equality and diversity as a business imperative
Cultivating diversity in all its forms - of our content, products, and people - is one of our most important business imperatives.
Jeff Bewkes is an American media executive. He was the former chairman of the board, president, and CEO of Time Warner. Bewkes was responsible for closing the sale of Time Warner to AT&T for a whopping sum of $84.5 billion, making it one of the biggest media acquisitions of all time.
We need diverse services, products, and content in a diverse world. Whether in our content, products, or ourselves, we must learn to nurture and promote diversity in our employees and society. One way to achieve this is by “cultivating diversity in all its forms,” as suggested by Jeff Bewkes’ diversity quote.
We are building products that people with very diverse backgrounds use, and I think we all want our company makeup to reflect the makeup of the people who use our products.
~ Sheryl Sandberg
A truly equal world would be one where women ran half our countries and companies and men ran half our homes.
~ Sheryl Sandberg
Inequality, in all its forms - gender, LGBTQ, racial, or otherwise - is an issue that every company must address for its own benefit and to create a better world. We believe businesses need to focus on closing the equality gap with the same energy put into creating new products and markets.
~ Zamantungwa Khumalo
D&I needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in.
~ Bo Young Lee
My becoming the CEO is a testament to our long commitment to diversity inclusion. And I intend to really focus and really pay that forward for our future diverse leaders at Deloitte.
~ Cathy Engelbert
A world where diversity and inclusion are no longer a special program
I want our future leaders to know what's possible and to be part of a world where diversity and gender equality aren't special programs but the natural way of operating.
Pierre Nanterme is a French business executive and former chairman and CEO of Accenture. He was awarded the insignia Chevalier of the Legion of Honour for his numerous contributions as a French business leader. Nanterme also served as president of Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), the largest French employers' association.
Nanterme's quote warns against using diversity and gender equality as a political tool. Sadly, this is commonplace in our workplace and societies. Nanterme's equality and diversity quote advises that full integration of diverse people should be the norm. By now, we should see this as a "natural way of operating" world systems.
All this talk about equality. The only thing people really have in common is that they are all going to die.
~ Bob Dylan
Equal pay isn't just a women's issue; when women get equal pay, their family incomes rise and the whole family benefits.
~ Mike Honda
It takes no compromise to give people their rights… it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.
~ Harvey Milk
Absolute Equality Quotes
I do not want to be the angel of any home: I want for myself what I want for other women, absolute equality. After that is secured, then men and women can take turns being angels.
Ontario native Agnes Campbell Macphail was a Canadian politician. She was the first female MP in Canadian history. In a poll conducted by former Ontario MPP Marilyn Churley, the people voted for Agnes Macphail as the Greatest Ontario Woman.
Women play a crucial role in business and society. Workplaces that encourage the inclusion of women in all tiers of the industry see better growth and innovation than those still using a token representation of diversity. People of all genders should push against being used as the token gender. Ask to see more people like you.
Before God, we are all equally wise, and equally foolish.
~ Albert Einstein
I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems are complicated. But to me there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality.
~ Alice Paul
If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.
~ Franz Boas
All the citizens of a state cannot be equally powerful, but they may be equally free.
~ Voltaire
The actions we can take to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion
The war we have to wage today has only one goal and that is to make the world safe for diversity.
Collective action remains the best way of renewing the march towards the great trinity of liberty, equality, and solidarity.
When you hear people making hateful comments, stand up to them. Point out what a waste it is to hate, and you could open their eyes.
Taylor Allison Swift (listen on amazon) is an American singer and songwriter known for her narrative songwriting style centered around her personal life. Swift is one of the most decorated music artists globally, with 10 Grammy Awards in her collection. She is a philanthropist, activist, and a strong critic of racial discrimination and child abuse.
Silence does not combat hate speech. Speaking up with your counter-beliefs does. This is why no one should be neutral in the face of hate, even when the propagators are not directing their hate at you.
The role of leadership
The path to diversity begins with supporting, mentoring, and sponsoring diverse women and men to become leaders and entrepreneurs.
Denise Morrison is an American business bigwig who served as president and chief executive officer of Campbell Soup Company from 2011 through 2018. Many consider her one of the world's most influential businesswomen. Morrison has also served as head of numerous organizations and is currently a MetLife's board of directors member.
Women (and men of minority groups) have been subject to abuse and discrimination for a long time. To achieve equality and diversity, we must begin with "supporting, mentoring, and sponsoring diverse women and men,” as Denise Morrison’s equality quotes so aptly put it.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed; We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr
The word 'equality' shows up too much in our founding documents for anyone to pretend it's not the American way.
~ Martha Plimpton
We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
~ Martin Luther King, Jr
We must look past our own narrow interests and attend to the interests of our global society.
~ Malala Yousafzai
I believe the equal rights amendment is a necessity of life for all citizens. The cabinet sometimes felt that I shouldn't be so outspoken.
~ Betty Ford
Quotes about equality and the next generation
If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."
~ Maya Angelou
Until we get equality in education, we won't have an equal society.
~ Sonia Sotomayor
“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community—and this nation."
~ Cesar Chavez
Related read: Youth Quotes.
What We Can Learn From Equality Quotes and Moves to Improve Diversity
“Our ability to reach unity in diversitywill be the beauty and the test of our civilisation.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi
“A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.”
~ Islamic Proverb
No one, under any circumstance, should question the need for diversity and inclusion. We should also work towards ridding ourselves of neutrality in the face of hate and discrimination.
Whenever you’re in a position to help someone who is being discriminated against, do it. Our society is only the product of our efforts. To achieve a society where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected, we must all work to see, hear, and respect one another.
Related read: Being different quotes.
More Equality and Diversity Quotes:
Equality consists in the same treatment of similar persons.
~ Aristotle
I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.
~ Winston Churchill
The Universal Zulu Nation stands to acknowledge wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, and equality, peace, unity, love, and having fun, work, overcoming the negative through the positive, science, mathematics, faith, facts, and the wonders of God, whether we call him Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, or Jah.
The trends that are shaping the twenty-first-century world embody both promise and peril. Globalization, for example, has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty while contributing to social fragmentation and a massive increase in inequality, not to mention serious environmental damage.
The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. At the highest tantric levels, at the highest esoteric level, you must respect women: every woman.
Marriage equality is a term so ridiculous on its face that when you hear it mentioned, you would think you were in Riyadh. Years from now, perhaps we can lose the equality part, the same-sex part and call it what it is - marriage.
More countries have understood that women's equality is a prerequisite for development.
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
