“Some say that AIDS came from the monkeys, and I doubt that because we ...” — Wangari Maathai Quote

“Some say that AIDS came from the monkeys, and I doubt that because we have been living with monkeys from time immemorial, others say it was a curse from God, but I say it cannot be that.”

“There's a general culture in this country to cut all the trees. It makes me so angry because everyone is cutting and no one is planting.”

“It's a matter of life and death for this country. The Kenyan forests are facing extinction and it is a man-made problem.”

“My play Safe Sex was picked apart because critics thought it was untrue. It was a play in which no one had AIDS, but the characters talked about how it was going to change their lives.”

“I went on French television for 20 minutes. It was very embarrassing to have to say, 'I'm not dead. I'm well. I'm not ill, and I don't have AIDS.' I hated doing it, because it was so insulting to those who really did have AIDS.”

“I've seen things change and people forget: the history of Berlin, the history of queer struggle, the history of AIDS, the history of New York changing from an artistic powerhouse to more of a financial one now.”