“Child labor perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, and other social problems.”

“Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime.”

“Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child's eye - it is very beautiful.”

“Denial of childhood and denial of freedom are the biggest sins which humankind has been committing and perpetuating for ages.”

“Each time I free a child, I feel it is something closer to God.”

“Economic growth and human development need to go hand in hand. Human values need to be advocated vigorously.”

“Every child matters. If we fail our children, we are bound to fail our present, our future, faith, cultures, and civilisations as well.”

“Every single minute matters, every single child matters, every single childhood matters.”

“For me, peace is a fundamental human right of every child; it is inevitable and divine.”

“From my own experience, I want to say that you should follow your heart, and the mind will follow you. Believe in yourself, and you will create miracles.”

“I am really honoured, but if the prize had gone to Mahatma Gandhi before me, I would have been more honoured.”

“I am representing here - the sound of silence. The cry of innocence. And, the face of invisibility. I represent millions of those children who are left behind, and that's why I have kept an empty chair here as a reminder.”

“I am thankful to the Nobel committee for recognising the plight of millions of children who are suffering in this modern age.”

“I call for a march from exploitation to education, from poverty to shared prosperity, a march from slavery to liberty, and a march from violence to peace.”

“I dream for a world which is free of child labour, a world in which every child goes to school. A world in which every child gets his rights.”

“I have been very strongly advocating that poverty must not be used as an excuse to continue child labour. It perpetuates poverty. If children are deprived of education, they remain poor.”

“If not now, then when? If not you, then who? If we are able to answer these fundamental questions, then perhaps we can wipe away the blot of human slavery.”

“If you keep on buying things made by child slaves in such conditions, you are equally responsible for the perpetration of slavery.”

“India may be a land of over a 100 problems, but it is also a place for a billion solutions.”

“Let us democratise knowledge. Let us universalise justice. Together, let us globalise compassion!”

“The biggest challenge or biggest crisis knocking on the doors of humankind is fear and intolerance.”

“The fight against child slavery is the fight against traditional mindset, policy deficit, and lack of accountability and urgency for children across the globe.”

“The first 'D' is to dream: dream big - not for yourself, but for the country and for the world. The second 'D' is to discover: discover your full potential and the opportunities that surround you; and the third 'D' is to do. 'Do' means to act on your dreams and make best use of the opportunities you have discovered.”

“There is a triangular relationship between poverty, child labour and illiteracy who have a cause and consequence relationship. We will have to break this vicious circle.”

“Today it is time for every child to have a right to life, right to freedom, right to health, right to education, safety, the right to dignity, right to equality, and right to peace.”

“World's children cannot wait any longer. While international community debates and issues recommendations, statements and fine speeches, world's children - marginalised, socially excluded, poor and vulnerable - continue to suffer.”