“Since the world has existed, there has been injustice. But it is one world, the more so as it becomes smaller, more accessible. There is just no question that there is more obligation that those who have should give to those who have nothing.”
- May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993
- British
- Actress, Humanitarian, Fashion Icon, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
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Quote
“Since the world has existed, there has been injustice. But it is one world, the more so as it becomes smaller, more accessible. There is just no question that there is more obligation that those who have should give to those who have nothing.”
Explanation
In this quote, Audrey Hepburn addresses the enduring reality of global injustice, while affirming a deepening sense of shared responsibility in an increasingly interconnected world. She begins with a sober recognition: inequality and suffering have always existed, a timeless condition of human society. However, as technology and globalization draw people and nations closer, she argues that this closeness magnifies our moral obligation to act.
The phrase “one world” is central—Hepburn insists that despite divisions of wealth, nationality, or circumstance, we are all part of a single human family. As the world becomes “smaller, more accessible,” ignorance or indifference becomes less defensible. Her conclusion is firm: “there is just no question” about the duty of the privileged to support the vulnerable. For Hepburn, who worked tirelessly with UNICEF, this was not abstract idealism but a practical, lived ethic of compassion.
In today’s global context—marked by growing wealth disparities, refugee crises, and climate-induced displacement—Hepburn’s words are a moral compass. They urge us to move beyond charity and toward justice, solidarity, and ethical action. Her call is timeless and urgent: when we have the means to help, we also have the responsibility to do so.
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