“Taking care of children has nothing to do with politics. I think perhaps with time, instead of there being a politicization of humanitarian aid, there will be a humanization of politics.”
- May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993
- British
- Actress, Humanitarian, Fashion Icon, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
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Quote
“Taking care of children has nothing to do with politics. I think perhaps with time, instead of there being a politicization of humanitarian aid, there will be a humanization of politics.”
Explanation
In this quote, Audrey Hepburn draws a clear distinction between humanitarian care and political agendas, particularly in the context of children. Her assertion that “taking care of children has nothing to do with politics” underscores the belief that the well-being of the most vulnerable should transcend ideological, national, or partisan boundaries. For Hepburn, who witnessed war and suffering as a child and later championed UNICEF’s mission, child welfare was a moral imperative, not a political issue.
The second part of her quote—“a humanization of politics”—expresses both a hope and a critique. She envisions a future where political decisions are not driven by power or bureaucracy, but by compassion, empathy, and basic human needs. Rather than allowing aid to become a tool of leverage or division, she imagines a world where politics is informed by the same principles that guide humanitarian work: dignity, care, and shared responsibility.
In today’s global landscape, where humanitarian aid is often entangled with geopolitical strategy, her words remain both idealistic and urgent. They remind us that children’s lives should not be subject to diplomatic calculation, and that true progress lies not in politicizing compassion, but in making compassion political. Hepburn’s quote stands as a call to realign leadership with human values rather than power structures.
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