Why Become a Social Worker? 19 Inspirational Quotes

The field of social work is often described as noble because of what it seeks to accomplish. Social workers’ primary goal is to improve the well-being of vulnerable and marginalized communities and individuals. In working toward this goal, social workers establish programs and policies, advocate for and give a voice to those who otherwise may not be heard, and help individuals cope with challenges in their lives.

Social work programs and initiatives can help bolster communities, which is one of the reasons people choose to become social workers. The call to support individuals and communities leads many people to pursue an advanced social work degree.

Prospective and current social workers can be motivated by others who have positively impacted the world. From religious leaders and authors to activists and political figures, these individuals have led the way, and their words can inspire social workers when they seek encouragement and renewed purpose.

Social Work Quotes 

Social work is a helping profession, and effective professionals in the field understand the scope of their practice. Social workers need to advocate for and build communities, but they also need to bear in mind that progress can be measured in many different ways. Some goals take longer than others to achieve

The following quotes can help individuals remain mindful of social work’s complexities. 

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
— Helen Keller, U.S. author, educator, and disability rights advocate
Social workers have worked hard and studied for years to become competent professionals who work to empower individuals and communities. Collaborating with other social workers and being part of interdisciplinary units can help in many ways. Social workers value interpersonal relationships, teamwork, and trust. By sharing their experiences with one another, social workers can share in the celebrations and challenges of their work.

It is not your job to save everyone. Some people are not even ready to be helped. Focus on being of service to those who are, and be wise and humble enough to know when the best service you can offer is to guide them toward help in another direction.
— Anna Taylor, award-winning New Zealand fiction author
The temptation to transform into a superhero social worker is inviting, yet unrealistic. Piles of paperwork list names, dates, and difficult situations, but not all can be attended to in one day. Asking for help is best.

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
— Edward Everett Hale, U.S. author, historian, and clergyman, best remembered for his short story in support of the Union’s Civil War effort, “A Man Without a Country”
Focusing on strengths is always important in social work. Studying and observing the problem rather than working with others toward a solution is a fruitless endeavor. Social workers conduct research, create strategies to resolve social issues, and play their role as part of the solution.

Speak up if you want to bring change to the world.
— Dr. DaShanne Spokes, U.S. author, progressive activist, and Native American rights advocate
Survivors of trauma may lack the words to express their grief and fear. Social workers recognize the need and are the first to respond. They are the ones who can bring hope to the hearts of the hurting.

The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.
— Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States
Every human contributes to the world in some way, whether through positive or negative actions. Social workers can contribute goodness and light, helping people see hope rather than despair. In turn, they can have hope for positive outcomes in their own lives.

I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear.
— Oprah Winfrey, U.S. television personality, actor, and entrepreneur
Social workers directly serve many individuals who have survived traumatic experiences and deal with a lot of fear. As such, they can be examples of how to choose hope over fear, love over hatred, and forgiveness over retaliation.

Human Service Quotes 

Every professional who decides to become a social worker is tasked with supporting those in need. This can occasionally be challenging, as red tape and societal pressures may interfere with the goals they have in mind. 

The following quotes can inspire social workers to remain steady in the course of serving communities and individuals. They can even help spur them on when they need to clear some of the hurdles they face.

The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others.
— Gordon B. Hinckley, U.S. author and religious leader
Forgetting our personal woes is easier when we are serving the needs of those around us. For social workers, the needs can be overwhelming. But, regardless of the results, the rewards of the work are significant.

Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.
— Mother Teresa, or Saint Teresa of Calcutta, nun, missionary, and founder of the Missionaries of Charity
Small successes are successes all the same. When actions are guided by love, compassion, and a focus on the inherent dignity and worth of all people, those actions become great.

As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness.
— Dieter F. Uchtdorf, German aviator, airline executive, and religious leader
Every now and then, we meet younger versions of ourselves. We see the mistakes they are making today and wish we could set them on an alternative path. Social workers are invested in the lives of those they are serving. They discover more and more about themselves every day as they learn to help those around them.

You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.
— Rosa Parks, U.S. civil rights activist
“Firsts” are always frightening. First step, first failure, first success. But for social workers, fear is a sign they are making progress on the road less traveled.

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.
— Mother Teresa, or Saint Teresa of Calcutta, nun, missionary, and founder of the Missionaries of Charity
The world can seem like a big, scary place for people who are going through traumatic events and those who are experiencing houselessness. A safer, more protective home begins with one person, in one home.

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that you cannot sincerely try to help another without helping yourself.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, U.S. lecturer, poet, and essayist who popularized New England transcendentalism
Social workers have a very fulfilling career. They help people get through difficult situations and find their way to physical, mental, and emotional recovery.

Social Change Quotes 

In social work, responding to a call for help typically requires action. Social workers cannot merely design policies and practices. They must advocate for systemic change and promote social justice at many levels. 

As the following quotes demonstrate, those who become social workers can use their compassion and empathy to pursue the kind of changes they want to see in their community. 

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.
— The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, or Theodor “Ted” Seuss Geisel, U.S. children’s author, political cartoonist, and filmmaker
Social workers are a part of the few who do care. They care about social injustices committed every day, across the globe — behind closed doors and out in the open. They are the ones who care enough to believe they can make the world a better place.

I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.
— Angela Davis, U.S. political activist, academic, and author
While sitting back and accepting things for what they are seems easier, social workers do not do that. They actively decide to be involved in social change. They are leaders in their field, fighting for the rights of historically underserved and underrepresented individuals.

It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.
— Dalai Lama, Lhamo Thondup, 14th Dalai Lama, or highest spiritual leader, of Tibet
Action begins with a desire. Heartfelt compassion can lead to taking steps. The vulnerable and disadvantaged in this world need more than pity. They need to see love operate selflessly by making change happen.

I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.
— Lily Tomlin, U.S. actor, comedian, writer, and producer
That “somebody” can be a social worker, a compassionate soul, or an aspiring world changer. Social workers realize now is the time to act.

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
— Elie Wiesel, U.S. writer, professor, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor
Social workers dare to speak what has not yet been said. They dare to challenge the powerful, the intimidating, and the unjust. They refuse to stay silent; they question the status quo. Just because something has always been a certain way does not mean it is right or just. Social workers fight for justice.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
— Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States
Social workers have the education, experience, and skills necessary to initiate the change they want to see. They can have a tangible impact on the people they serve.

If people were silent, nothing would change.
— Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education and youngest Nobel laureate
While many people may desire change in their own lives and in the communities where they live, only those who are brave enough to speak out and take action will truly see change.

Pursue a Career in Social Work 

One benefit of becoming a social worker is that social work offers individuals the opportunity to make a difference. The messages in these quotes align with social workers’ primary role of helping to improve the well-being of communities and their residents. 

Tulane University’s Online Master of Social Work program can help you get ready to make a positive impact in the social work field. Our program is designed to help you further develop the knowledge and skills you need to approach social work issues from various angles and viewpoints, allowing you to tackle each unique social work situation with confidence. 

Learn how we can help prepare you for a meaningful career.