50 DEI Quotes for a Better World

By Norbert Juma

Master quote curator and editor on a mission to inspire

Published May 13, 2023

You have landed on the right page if you are searching for the best DEI quotes.

We have curated a list of the best DEI quotes that are inspiring too.

Besides, you can also look at the section below and learn about the term DEI.

So, let’s dive in without any delay!

What is Meant by DEI?

DEI is an abbreviation of three words Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

These words relate to a unique concept gaining popularity among the masses.

It refers to a framework that helps to create an inclusive work environment.

Such an environment welcomes everyone, regardless of race, religion, or gender.

Diversity

Diversity relates to various individual differences depending on race, ethnicity, gender, or age.

It helps to recognize a person’s characteristics that make him/her different from others.

Equity

On the other hand, Equity is the act of impartiality and fairness.

Every individual should offer equal access to resources and opportunities.

Equity means every person must get what he/she deserves to achieve the goals.

Inclusion

It refers to creating a workplace culture where each individual feels a sense of respect, value, and support.

Why DEI is So Important

DEI is essential, as it helps to create a thriving work environment for everyone.

It is a way to promote a culture based on acceptance, respect, and belonging.

This can lead to better employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.

DEI can also help to attract loyal consumers and create a pool of top talent.

Companies are embracing DEI to improve their overall image.

In addition, DEI is a great way to build a positive and attractive brand image.

Hence, these brands are gaining the benefits of DEI in terms of growth and progress.

Ways to Implement DEI in the Workplace

Here are the ways to implement DEI in the workplace:

Assess the prevailing state of the DEI in your organization and identify areas that need improvement.
Create a DEI committee comprising people/employees from diverse backgrounds.
It is also advised to create a DEI policy that outlines the guidelines for implementing DEI rules.
Offer the necessary training to employees.
Review HR policies to ensure equality among employees.
The leadership must play a key role in creating an inclusive work environment.

Top 10 DEI Quotes

These are the top 10 DEI quotes by famous people around the world.

1. “Society is unity in diversity.” — George Herbert Mead

2. “Talent perceives differences; genius, unity.” — William Butler Yeats

3. “No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.” — Mahatma Gandhi

4. “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” — Stephen Covey

5. “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” — M. Scott Peck

6. “Diversity is a mix, and inclusion is making the mix work.” — Andrés Tapia

7. “Our concern is to heal. Our concern is to bring together.” — Harold Washington

8. “Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.” — Malcolm Forbes

9. “A democracy thrives on diversity. Tyranny oppresses it.” — Sam Brownback

10. “We have to transcend our differences to transform our future.” — Antonio Guterres

Working DEI Quotes

The following DEI quotes are about work and describe the relationship of DEI to work.

11. “Leadership should be focused on extending the ladder of opportunity for everyone.” — Justin Trudeau

12. “You don’t have true freedom until you allow a diversity of opinion and a diversity of voices.” — Don Lemon

13. “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” — John F. Kennedy

14. “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” — Jane Goodall

15. “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” — Maya Angelou

16. “Diversity and inclusion, which are the real grounds for creativity, must remain at the center of what we do.” — Marco Bizzarri

17. “We have no hope of solving our problems without harnessing the diversity, the energy, and the creativity of all our people.” — Roger Wilkins

18. “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

19. “You do not want to be in a creative organization with everybody being like-minded and stroking each other’s creative egos. You want differences of opinion… constructively.” — Cate Blanchett

20. “Whole idea of a stereotype is to simplify. Instead of going through the problem of all this great diversity – that it’s this or maybe that – you have just one large statement; it is this.” — Chinua Achebe

DEI Quotes for a More Inclusive World

The quotes below aim to promote unity among the masses despite diversity, equity, and Inclusion.

21. “The history of the past is but one long struggle upward to equality.” — Elizabeth Cady Stanton

22. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

23. “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” — Mahatma Gandhi

24. “There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion.” — Malala Yousafzai

25. “Diversity is about all of us, and about us having to figure out how to walk through this world together.” — Jacqueline Woodson

26. “To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater.” — Bono

27. “All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent.” — John F. Kennedy

28. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde

29. “What we have to do… is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.” — Hillary Clinton

30. “The path to diversity begins with supporting, mentoring, and sponsoring diverse women and men to become leaders and entrepreneurs.” — Denise Morrison

Explore cultures’ rich and diverse tapestry with these insightful DEI quotes that celebrate our differences and promote understanding.

31. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” — Sundar Pichai

32. “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” — Kofi Annan

33. “If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.” — Franz Boas

34. “The key to community is the acceptance, in fact, the celebration of our individual and cultural differences. It is also the key to world peace.” — M. Scott Peck

35. “The world has only one border. It is called humanity. The differences between us are small compared to our shared humanity. Put humans first.” — Nadia Murad

36. “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

37. “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

38. “Difference is of the essence of humanity. The difference is an accident of birth, and it should, therefore, never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.” — John Hume

39. “I’ve traveled around the world, and what’s so revealing is that, despite the differences in culture, politics, language, and how people dress, there is a universal feeling that we all want the same thing. We deeply want to be respected and appreciated for our differences.” — Howard Schultz

40. “In today’s interconnected and globalized world, it is now commonplace for people of dissimilar world views, faiths, and races to live side by side. It is a matter of great urgency, therefore, that we find ways to cooperate with one another in a spirit of mutual acceptance and respect.” — Dalai Lama

DEI Quotes About Respecting Others

Respecting others is the most important thing in having diversity. This DEI quotes emphasizes respect for others despite different opinions.

41. “Learn to enjoy and respect each other’s differences.” — Fred Meijer

42. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” — Thomas Jefferson

43. “Sometimes we are separated by differences, and sometimes we are united by common ideals of respect and compassion.” — Paul Watson

44. “It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.” — Billie Jean King

45. “To get real diversity of thought, you need to find the people who genuinely hold different views and invite them into the conversation.” — Adam Grant

46. “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

47. “I believe 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

48. “It understands that gives us the ability to have peace. When we understand the other fellow’s viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and work out our differences.” — Harry S Truman

49. “Growing up, I decided, a long time ago, I wouldn’t accept any manmade differences between human beings, differences made at somebody else’s insistence or someone else’s whim or convenience.” — Maya Angelou

50. “Recognizing and respecting differences in others, and treating everyone like you want them to treat you, will help make our world a better place for everyone. Care … be your best. You don’t have to be handicapped to be different. Everyone is different!” — Kim Peek