World Refugee Day Quotes That Inspire Empathy and Action

World Refugee Day, observed on June 20, is a time to reflect on the courage of refugees and renew our commitment to justice, compassion, and human dignity. In a world where over 110 million people are forcibly displaced, words can play a powerful role in awakening empathy and mobilizing change.

Below is a curated collection of quotes by refugees, world leaders, writers, activists, and humanitarian voices—each one a call to see refugees not as statistics, but as resilient human beings with stories, strength, and dreams.

🕊️ Quotes from Refugees and Former Refugees

“I am not a burden. I am a survivor. I am your neighbor.”
— Anonymous refugee statement, UNHCR campaign

“Refugees are ordinary people living through extraordinary circumstances.”
— Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Laureate & former displaced person

“I had to flee my country, but I didn’t flee my identity. I’m still a teacher, a woman, a mother.”
— Razan, Syrian refugee in Germany

“We belong to this world, just like everyone else.”
— Khaled Hosseini, Afghan-born novelist & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

🌍 Quotes from Global Leaders and Humanitarians

“No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”
— Warsan Shire, British-Somali poet

“A refugee is someone who survived and who can create the future.”
— Amela Koluder, Bosnian war survivor

“Refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity.”
— Pope Francis

“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
— Albert Einstein, physicist and refugee from Nazi Germany

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals.”
— Pema Chödrön, Buddhist teacher

🧭 Quotes to Spark Action and Advocacy

“We must challenge the notion that caring for others is charity. It is justice.”
— Bryan Stevenson, civil rights lawyer

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.

“How we treat refugees says more about us than it does about them.”
— David Miliband, International Rescue Committee

“It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.”
— Dalai Lama

💬 Quotes for Schools, Churches, and Community Groups

“The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself.”
— Leviticus 19:34 (The Bible)

“Let your life speak louder than your words.”
— Quaker proverb

“There is no them. There is only us.”
— Gregory Boyle, Jesuit priest and community activist

“We have more in common than that which divides us.”
— Jo Cox, British MP

🎨 Quotes for Social Media & Awareness Campaigns

“Empathy is the starting point for change.”
“Refugees are not voiceless—they are silenced. Let’s help them be heard.”
“Shelter is a right. Safety is a right. Hope is a right.”
“Welcome is not just a word. It’s an action.”

Hashtags to use:
#WorldRefugeeDay #WithRefugees #RefugeeVoices #StandTogether

✍️ How to Use These Quotes Effectively

• Post on social media with a strong visual or portrait.
• Display quotes in schools, churches, and public spaces during June.
• Read them aloud at vigils, panels, or community gatherings.
• Include in newsletters, blogs, or World Refugee Day sermons.
• Pair with refugee art or storytelling projects to deepen impact.

🧡 Final Reflection

Each quote is more than words—it’s an invitation to act, to stand, to open our eyes and hearts. On World Refugee Day, and every day, let these voices remind us of our shared humanity.

Because every refugee is not just fleeing something—but seeking something: safety, dignity, opportunity, and hope.