September 8th is International Literacy Day. This year’s theme is Reading the Past, Writing the Future.

There is a lot to celebrate about global literacy, as rates have improved steadily over the past 50 years. The growth has been particularly remarkable among the youth population. For example, young people living in Africa and Asia are far more likely to be literate today than they were 50 years ago!

However, 758 million adults remain illiterate, and two-thirds are women! Statistics like these remind us that there is still much to be done and will require a collective effort to reach Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5.

In celebration of International Literacy Day and in solidarity with those we seek to serve through the power of education and health awareness, we selected eight of our favorite quotes about the power of literacy. Enjoy!

  1. “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass
  2. “Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.”  – Vera Nazarian
  3. “Literacy could be the ladder out of poverty.” – Morgan Freeman
  4. “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope…the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.” – Kofi Annan
  5. “We must strive for literacy and education that teach us to never quite questioning and probing at the assumptions of the day.” – Bryant McGill
  6. “A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.” – Sasha Salmina
  7. “To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.” – Somerset Maugham
  8. “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King

School thursday literacy day

Do you have any good quotes that promote literacy and education? Share them with us in the comments!