Whether it is in your family, with friends, or at work, people can be completely diverse. The times when diversity was thought of as something negative are long gone. The age of tolerance and acceptance is here.
Being inclusive and giving visibility to minorities is everyone’s duty. We can no longer accept discrimination or unfairness just because people might be different from us.
It is normal to have differences, to not agree with something, or to have a different opinion. However, when we are tolerant and understand those differences as part of our diverse world, we can become better people.
Besides, diversity has many benefits! Studies have shown that diversity can boost productivity and creativity as well as broaden our knowledge. Can you imagine living in a world where everyone is exactly the same? How boring!
If you happen to be struggling with diversity and inclusion or if you just want to spread the word about this topic, you have come to the right place. We have compiled some of the best quotes on diversity and inclusion for you. Let’s take a look!
“I don’t care if you’re black, white, straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, short, tall, fat, skinny, rich or poor. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. Simple as that.”
Robert Michaels
“Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.”
Malcolm Forbes
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”
Stephen Covey
“Diversity is a mix and inclusion is making the mix work.”
Andrés Tapia
“When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.”
Ava DuVernay
“You don’t have true freedom until you allow a diversity of opinion and a diversity of voices.”
Don Lemon
“Diversity is about all of us and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.”
Jacqueline Woodson
“We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity, life would be very boring.”
Catherine Pulsifer
“Inclusivity means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued. I’ve always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things.”
Claudia Brind-Woody
“The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.”
Thomas Berry
“Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It is the key to growth.”
Jesse Jackson
“Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without.”
William Sloane Coffin Jr.
“What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.”
Hillary Clinton
“Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do.”
Marco Bizzarri
“Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make every day. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace and not just tolerate diversity.”
Nellie Borrero
“The human heart is too grand to be wasted in the gutter of cultural exclusivity.”
Abhijit Naskar
“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organization.”
Pat Wadors
“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.”
Verna Myers
“Diversity doesn’t look like anyone. It looks like everyone.”
Karen Draper
“Diversity really means becoming complete as human beings – all of us. We learn from each other. If you’re missing on that stage, we learn less. We all need to be on that stage.”
Juan Felipe Herrera
“Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.”
Liz Fosslien
“Cultural differences should not separate us from each other, but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity.”
Robert Alan
“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
Winston Churchill
“Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same.”
Angelina Jolie
“Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.”
George R.R. Martin
“Diversity involves inspiration. So, anybody can get inspired by an idea and implement it in some other field or context.”
Chitesh Bhat
“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.”
Bessel A. van der Kolk
“The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you; they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.”
Wade Davis
“One of the hallmarks of social wellness is being inclusive, not exclusive, with our friendship.”
Laurie Buchanan
“It were not best that we should all think alike; it is the difference of opinion that makes horse races.”
Mark Twain
“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
Jimmy Carter
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”
Maya Angelou
“What we need to do is learn to respect and embrace our differences until our differences don’t make a difference in how we are treated.”
Yolanda King
“Diversity, or the state of being different, isn’t the same as inclusion. One is a description of what is, while the other describes a style of interaction essential to effective teams and organizations.”
Bill Crawford
“We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
Max de Pree
“I believe that we are here for each other, not against each other. Everything comes from an understanding that you are a gift in my life – whoever you are, whatever our differences.”
John Denver
“If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.”
Franz Boas
“The difference between diversity and inclusion is being invited to a house and being able to rearrange the furniture.”
Jane Silber
“While globalization will make the world smaller and more accessible, we must continue to appreciate its vibrant diversity.”
Jean-Philippe Courtois
“When you don’t have diversity in the creative process, you inevitably end up with a single, narrow perspective in the output.”
Hannah Fry
“If you believe, as we believe, that diversity leads to better products, and we’re all about making products that enrich people’s lives, then you obviously put a ton of energy behind diversity the same way you would put a ton of energy behind anything else that is truly important.”
Tim Cook
“If you haven’t hired a team of people who are of color, female, and/or LGBT to actively turn over every stone, to scope out every nook and cranny, to pop out of every bush, to find every qualified underrepresented founder in this country, you’re going to miss out on a lot of money when the rest of the investment world gets it.”
Arlan Hamilton
“Gender and racially diverse teams perform better, innovate more, and improve economic quality.”
Stephanie Lampkin
“Diversity in all its forms is the path to greatness.”
James D Wilson
“The color of your soul is more important than the color of your skin.”
Matshona Dhliwayo
“A garden’s beauty never lies in one flower.”
Matshona Dhliwayo
“Diversity of form factor matters, and not compromising either form factor. You need diversity of price point.”
Steve Ballmer
“It’s not diversity that is going to destroy us, but fear of diversity.”
Federica Mogherini
“What diversity advocates are working for is an industry that honestly, accurately, and equitably represents the world we live in.”
Mike Jung
“Every culture’s history is essential. Everyone deserves to have their lives elevated through the beauty of truthful representation.”
Rohit Bhargava
Wrapping Up
These quotes show how relevant it is to be inclusive and value our differences. Whether we have cultural, racial, or gender differences, we are all part of this beautiful world and want to be accepted for what we are.
Be a supporter of a world of tolerance, inclusion, and acceptance. Strive for diversity to be part of your life and you will realize that life is better when looked at from different angles. And use the collection you have just read for the better!
