Ellen Johnson Sirleaf quotes

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian stateswoman and economist who became Africa’s first elected female head of state. She led Liberia through post-civil war recovery and worked to promote peace, women’s rights, and economic development. She has received global recognition, including the Nobel Peace Prize, for her leadership and dedication to democracy. Here are 26 of her quotes:

All girls know that they can be anything now. That transformation is to me one of the most satisfying things.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

One has to look at my life story to see what I've done. I've paid a heavy price that many people don't realize.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Leadership is never given on a silver platter, one has to earn it.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Of course, I am the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, and that raises a lot of expectations. Because I represent the aspirations of women all over Africa, I must succeed for them. I must keep the door open for women's participation in politics at the highest level. That is both humbling and exciting.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I work hard, I work late, I have nothing on my conscience. When I go to bed, I sleep.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

As more men become more educated and women get educated, the value system has to be more enhanced and the respect for human dignity and human life is made better.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I just think that unless you have that cohesiveness in the family unit, the male character tends to become very dominant, repressive and insensitive. So much of this comes also from a lack of education.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I think the majority of the Liberian people want peace.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it. We have the commitment, we have the resourcefulness, and we have the strength of our people to share the dream across Africa of clean water for all.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Liberia just needs to go through this one political transition and it can really take off. Everything's in place now. We cannot afford to put the country in the hands of someone that lacks the experience.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Future generations will judge us not by what we say, but what we do.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ethnicity should enrich us; it should make us a unique people in our diversity and not be used to divide us.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Women work harder. And women are more honest; they have less reasons to be corrupt.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I don't run a woman government. I run a government of people.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Liberia can move on and break from the past. That is very important for us to try to achieve our development goals and reconcile our nation.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Our entire judicial system in Liberia has broken down because of the many years of lawlessness, indiscipline and warfare. We need more training to get more qualified judges. We need infrastructural reforms. All of our laws need to be re-examined by a law reform commission.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

In Liberia, our main obstacle is infrastructure: the lights, the water, the roads. Companies can't operate without those things. And even though we have commitments from our partners, it takes time to turn commitments into cash.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I beg you I no magician. I can't just wave a magic wand.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

We all have a stake in the battle against Ebola.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

We have to overcome the practice of male domination - even though it's changing, and changing in Liberia quite drastically.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I underestimated the low level of capacity. I also underestimated the cultural roots of corruption.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf