The cause of universal education, which has already enlisted in its
service an army of dedicated people from every faith and nation, deserves the
utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is
indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the
perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is
accorded all its citizens. Lack of resources limits the ability of many
nations to fulfil this necessity, imposing a certain ordering of priorities.
The decision-making agencies involved would do well to consider giving first
priority to the education of women and girls, since it is through educated
mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly
diffused throughout society. In keeping with the requirements of the times,
consideration should also be given to teaching the concept of world citizenship
as part of the standard education of every child.
(October 1985 to the Peoples of the World) [50]