Welcome to the world of Antonio Guterres, where wisdom meets leadership, and compassion guides action. As the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has been a steadfast voice for global cooperation, human rights, and sustainable development. His words carry the weight of experience, insight, and a profound commitment to addressing the pressing challenges of our time.
Antonio Guterres’s quotes encapsulate the essence of his vision for a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world. Whether it’s advocating for climate action, promoting gender equality, or championing human dignity, his words inspire and resonate with people from all walks of life. In this curated collection, you’ll find a treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration drawn directly from Antonio Guterres’s speeches, interviews, and writings. These quotes serve as beacons of hope, reminding us of the power of unity, compassion, and collective action in shaping a better future.
India is a country that has no direct interests in some areas of global conflict. It has very good relations with countries in conflict or countries facing difficult security situations, and I believe Indian diplomacy is very well received. India is a bridge-builder, an honest broker, and a messenger of peace. Antonio Guterres
I am a multilateralist. I am deeply convinced that there is no other way to deal with global challenges than with global responses, and organised in a multilateral way. Antonio Guterres
When you look at human rights, look at gender, and the rights of girls for education in the world – that are crucial issues – some are saying ‘Oh, these are western values.’ But these are really universal values. Antonio Guterres
We have to transcend our differences to transform our future. Antonio Guterres
When we achieve human rights and human dignity for all people – they will build a peaceful, sustainable, and just world. Antonio Guterres
Authorities that erect major obstacles to migration – or place severe restrictions on migrants’ work opportunities – inflict needless economic self-harm, as they impose barriers to having their labor needs met in an orderly, legal fashion. Worse still, they unintentionally encourage illegal migration. Antonio Guterres
We live in a… chaotic world. Antonio Guterres
The United Nations needs to be nimble, efficient, and effective. Antonio Guterres
The world’s problems transcend borders. Antonio Guterres
As populations continue to increase, and the climate continues to deteriorate, and as people flock in ever increasing numbers to large, underdeveloped cities, the threat of multiple protracted mega-emergencies has become reality. Antonio Guterres
Terrorists remain determined to find a weakness in our defence… To stay ahead of the terrorists, I call on the international community, the private sector, and academia to share knowledge, expertise, and resources to prevent new technologies becoming lethal terrorist weapons. Antonio Guterres
The only sure way to eliminate the threat posed by nuclear weapons is to eliminate the weapons themselves. Antonio Guterres
As a global society, we have the technology, resources and the know-how to make a massive difference to living standards everywhere, including for refugees. Antonio Guterres
Migratory birds connect people, ecosystems, and nations. They are symbols of peace and of an interconnected planet. Antonio Guterres
One of the most frustrating things is to see a country in which you had elections, the elections were a success, but then you have to say to people nothing can be improved in the next few months, even in the next few years, in infrastructure, in water, in sanitation, in health, in education, in jobs. Antonio Guterres
I do believe that the international community cannot act based on a rivalries or things of that sort. Antonio Guterres
The governments of south Sudan must make sure that everybody will get a nationality – that nobody will become stateless because of this separation. Antonio Guterres
In all circumstances in the world – even the most difficult circumstances – we need to push for dialogue. Antonio Guterres
Human rights are being violated in so many places. But we don’t give up because we know respect for human rights and human dignity is a basic condition for peace. Antonio Guterres
The people of the D.P.R.K. need our generosity and help. Antonio Guterres
When two people are together, they are not two but six: what each one is, what each one thinks he or she is, and what each one thinks the other is. And what is true for people is also true for countries and organisations. Antonio Guterres
Terrorism is a persistent and evolving global menace. No country is immune. Antonio Guterres
Nagasaki is not just an international city with a long and fascinating history. It is a global inspiration for all those who seek to create a safer and more secure world. Antonio Guterres
Nowhere in the world has the use of force alone resolved a conflict. Antonio Guterres
China can be a guarantor to North Korea that if they give up their nuclear capacity, the United States will not be in a position to harm them. And for the United States, China can also be a guarantor that if there is an agreement, that the agreement is effectively implemented by the North Koreans. Antonio Guterres
Plastic waste is now found in the most remote areas of the planet. It kills marine life and is doing major harm to communities that depend on fishing and tourism. Antonio Guterres
Nagasaki and Hiroshima remind us to put peace first every day; to work on conflict prevention and resolution, reconciliation, and dialogue; and to tackle the roots of conflict and violence. Antonio Guterres
The Secretary-General must be a determined advocate for the values of tolerance and solidarity – universal values that are shared by cultures and religions around the globe. Antonio Guterres
I am totally committed to the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations. Antonio Guterres
I’m not a multilateralist against anybody. I’m a multilateralist because I believe in a multilateral order. Antonio Guterres
Perceptions are essential in politics. Antonio Guterres
There is an urgent need for disarmament of all kinds, but especially nuclear disarmament. Antonio Guterres
Migration powers economic growth, reduces inequalities, and connects diverse societies. Yet it is also a source of political tensions and human tragedies. Antonio Guterres
When I look at the web, it’s clear that the web is a fantastic instrument for all of us. It’s clear that we have the dark web and the deep web and all the problems of cybersecurity, etc. And the question of regulation is a very complex question in relation to this. Antonio Guterres
Too often, U.N. peacekeepers face an impossible task in countries that are still at war and where there is no real peace to keep. Antonio Guterres
The international community spends much more time and resources managing crises than preventing them. But TV cameras are seldom there when a conflict is avoided, so it is difficult for governments and international organizations to make prevention a priority. Antonio Guterres
Global coherence demands a permanent strategic cooperation culture at all levels. Antonio Guterres
The future of the U.N. will be determined by its readiness to change and adapt. Antonio Guterres
It’s widely recognized that there is no peace without development and no development without peace; it is also true that there is no peace and sustainable development without respect for human rights. Antonio Guterres
Migrants make huge contributions to both their host countries and countries of origin. They take jobs that local workforces cannot fill, boosting economic activity. Many are innovators and entrepreneurs. Antonio Guterres
Looking at U.N. staff and budgetary rules and regulations, one might think some of them were designed to prevent, rather than enable, the effective delivery of our mandates. It benefits no one if it takes nine months to deploy a staff member to the field. Antonio Guterres
As we face the headwinds of our troubled and turbulent times, let us always be inspired by the legacy of Kofi Annan – and guided by the knowledge that he will continue speaking to us, urging us on toward the goals to which he dedicated his life and truly moved our world. Antonio Guterres
Terrorist groups share an agenda of authoritarianism, misogyny, and intolerance. They are an affront to the common values encapsulated in the U.N. Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Antonio Guterres
If resources become scarce, people tend to fight for them. This is increasing the number of people on the move and the number of people forced to move. They’re not refugees, according to the legal definition, but they represent a major humanitarian and human rights challenge, as well as a major challenge for world politics. Antonio Guterres
The United Nations must focus on delivery rather than process and on people rather than bureaucracy. Antonio Guterres
As a global community, we face a choice. Do we want migration to be a source of prosperity and international solidarity, or a byword for inhumanity and social friction? Antonio Guterres
All Bangladeshi citizens, including minorities and women, must feel safe and confident in exercising their right to vote. Antonio Guterres
The IMF acts on the mandate of the international community. Antonio Guterres
Humanitarian response, sustainable development, and sustaining peace are three sides of the same triangle. Antonio Guterres
The total elimination of nuclear weapons remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations. Antonio Guterres
Negative gender stereotypes related to girls’ education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics begin as early as primary school and have the devastating effect of making them doubt their own potential. Antonio Guterres
In a world where the latest app can sell for billions of dollars, there are plenty of ways to provide a minimum of humanity for those caught in conflict, who never had the opportunity to reach their potential in the first place. Antonio Guterres
Conflicts are multiplying – people are suffering. But we don’t give up, because we know every man, woman, and child deserves a life of peace. Antonio Guterres
Climate change is moving faster than we are, but we don’t give up because we know that climate action is the only path. Antonio Guterres
When counterterrorist policies are used to suppress peaceful protests and legitimate opposition movements, shut down debate, target human rights defenders, or stigmatize minorities, they fail, and we all lose. Indeed, such responses may cause further resentment and instability and contribute to radicalization. Antonio Guterres
United Nations Day marks the birthday of our founding Charter – the landmark document that embodies the hopes, dreams and aspirations of ‘we the peoples.’ Antonio Guterres
Our world faces many grave challenges: Widening conflicts and inequality. Extreme weather and deadly intolerance. Security threats – including nuclear weapons. We have the tools and wealth to overcome these challenges. All we need is the will. Antonio Guterres
I must say I have a personal love affair with India, with its civilisation, its culture. Antonio Guterres
Let us recommit to supporting every girl to develop her skills, enter the workforce on equal terms, and reach her full potential. Antonio Guterres
There’s corruption in many parts of the world. Antonio Guterres
Preventing conflict means going back to basics – strengthening institutions and building resilient societies. Antonio Guterres
Our world needs to move from managing crises to preventing them in the first place. Too often, the world responds too late and too little. Antonio Guterres
Denying the rights of women and girls is not only wrong in itself; it has a serious social and economic impact that holds us all back. Antonio Guterres
We want the world our children inherit to be defined by the values enshrined in the U.N. Charter: peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance, and solidarity. Antonio Guterres
When I was growing up reading history books as a young student, it seemed all wars had a winner. Yet in today’s wars, it is increasingly clear that no one wins. Everyone loses. Antonio Guterres
A refugee in the traditional vision is someone who flees from country to another because of persecution or conflict. But what we’re witnessing now more and more is a certain number of mega-trends interacting with one another: population growth, urbanization, food insecurity, water scarcity, climate change, and conflict. Antonio Guterres
One of the problems with the Security Council is that there are vetoes, and they do not allow us to do what might be justified from the point of view of sanctions. Antonio Guterres
There is never a humanitarian solution for a humanitarian crisis. The solutions for the humanitarian crisis are always political ones. Antonio Guterres
Far too often, girls are not given the space and opportunities they need to achieve their full potential. Antonio Guterres
Many countries do not allow women to convey their nationality to their children – if they are single mothers, the children become stateless. Antonio Guterres
There is increasing recognition that violence against women is a major barrier to the fulfilment of human rights and a direct challenge to women’s inclusion and participation in sustainable development and sustaining peace. Antonio Guterres
Women’s rights are human rights. Antonio Guterres
Our own objective is to make Africa overcome its difficulties, to make Africa a continent of hope, to make Africa a continent of the future, to make Africa a pillar of the world in which we live – not seen as a problem but seen as an opportunity. Antonio Guterres
You see in Islam, you see in Christianity, you see in Africa, in different religions, in Buddhism and Hinduism, there is a strong commitment to refugee protection. Antonio Guterres
For many people, Timbuktu has long represented the essence of remoteness: a mythical, faraway place located on the boundaries of our collective consciousness. But like many of the myths associated with colonialism, the reality is very different. Antonio Guterres
Clearly, the response to terrorism and violent extremism must respect human rights and comply with international law. That is not just a question of justice but of effectiveness. Antonio Guterres
The ‘responsibility to protect’ is a very important concept. Antonio Guterres
We cannot leave the Central Africans abandoned. Everyone needs to be mobilized to help this country build a future that Central Africans deserve. Antonio Guterres
It’s true that globalization, with all its fantastic improvements in the world and the technological progress linked to it, has increased inequality at country level, especially inside countries. And there are people that were left behind – people, sectors, regions – that has created a sense of frustration in the rust belts of the world. Antonio Guterres
The humanitarian aid system is built on a concept that when disaster strikes, outside agencies provide a temporary helping hand until people can take back control of their own lives. But across the world, we see millions of people caught in semi-permanent crises. As each year goes by, they are less and less likely to break free. Antonio Guterres
Empowering women and girls is the only way to protect their rights and make sure they can realise their full potential. Antonio Guterres
Since the shock of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s death, I have been reflecting on what made him so special. To my mind, it is simply this: Kofi Annan was both one of a kind and one of us. Antonio Guterres
When we see so many conflicts multiplying, the only way to allow the international community to be able to address those conflicts, the only way to allow the international community to act boldly, is with unity of the countries of the region, able to serve together and in the same universal principles. Antonio Guterres
The fact that societies are becoming increasingly multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious is good. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Antonio Guterres
World Migratory Bird Day is an opportunity to celebrate the great natural wonder of bird migration – but also a reminder that those patterns, and ecosystems worldwide, are threatened by climate change. Antonio Guterres
The facts are clear. Our oceans are a mess. Antonio Guterres
To give to those in need is a central pillar of Islam. Antonio Guterres
Stateless people are hidden. During the 2011 refugee crises, it was obvious that people were fleeing Somalia and Libya – there was a lot of international attention. Statelessness goes undetected because stateless people are in legal limbo and are afraid to show up. Antonio Guterres
Torture remains unacceptable and unjustified at all times, including during states of emergency, political instability, or even in a war. Antonio Guterres
Violence against women is fundamentally about power. Antonio Guterres
The future is unpredictable. Antonio Guterres
I think Australia is an extremely relevant partner and a key instrument for the stability, the progress, and the support of the East Timorese. Antonio Guterres
It is essential to understand that the U.N.’s strength lies in its values. The values enshrined in the Charter, the values the U.N. stands for, the values all religions respect. Antonio Guterres
Gender equality has a transformative effect that is essential to fully functioning communities, societies, and economies. Antonio Guterres
We are making it very clear to all countries that nothing justifies terrorism. There are no political reasons that justify it; there is no cause, no grievance that justifies it. And we will do everything possible to make sure that all countries of the world understand that. Antonio Guterres
Facing dramatic global challenges, we need a global capacity to address them that reaffirms the importance of multilateralism and the importance of a rules-based set of international relations, based on the rule of law and in accordance with the U.N. Charter. Antonio Guterres
Global terrorism threatens every region. Antonio Guterres
I’ll put everything I have in my capacity at the service of the noble cause and noble values of the U.N. and the U.N. Charter. Antonio Guterres
We must make sure that when someone sees the Blue Flag, she or he can say, ‘I am protected.’ Antonio Guterres
The twenty-first century will be characterized by the mass movement of people being pushed and pulled within and beyond their borders by conflict, calamity, or opportunity. Antonio Guterres