10 inspiring Fred Hollows' quotes: How to be a good human

Fred Hollows is considered an Australian icon because of his sight-restoring and humanitarian work in Australia, Asia and Africa. But Fred was always humble, considering himself to be an ordinary person who spoke up when he saw something unjust or wrong. Here are 10 quotes from Fred that will inspire you to take action.

Fred had high hopes for the people of Australia, having witnessed his fellow Australians display mateship plenty of times. He loved being stopped on the street by people who wanted to give a word of encouragement, commending his activism for eye health equity.

Photo credit: David Broadbent

1. “There’s a lot of goodwill amongst the Australian people. This affords me great optimism. Australians like to help other people, they like to help people less fortunate.” 

Fred didn’t shy away from getting his hands dirty and he never looked the other way when he saw something that wasn’t right. He took on governments, holding them accountable when he saw inequities go unaddressed. And he called on others to do the same.

2. “Individuals can and must help. Look at the problem and do something, don’t just sit back.”

Fred always prioritised getting the job done. He was offered the Order of Australia in 1985 but refused to accept it when there was work to be done to Close the Gap. He did accept the Australian of the Year Award finally in 1990 so he could use the platform to promote issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

3. “To my mind, having a care and concern for others is the highest of human qualities.”

Fred treated everyone equally and believed that every person deserved the same rights and privileges as the next person. He didn’t believe in hierarchy, and was a socialist at heart.

Photo credit: Pat Fiske

4. “I think I live by a humanist creed, you know, I think you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

Fred had very high moral standards and expected a lot from himself. He couldn’t abide complacency and inaction in the face of injustice, no matter how small or monumental.

5. “I am very concerned about not saying things that need to be said. I have said things that needed to be said, and to that extent you can call me provocative. You see I have been very concerned about my own cowardice, and most of us are. And this involves being afraid when you are with yourself about the times you should have done something and you didn’t, when you should have said something and you didn’t. So my provocativeness may be a foible or a function of that attribute.”

Some may say Fred was an atheist but he considered himself to be a humanist. He also had a spiritual upbringing, and was encouraged by his family to fight for social justice and to speak up for those who were oppressed or silenced.

6. “Even young animals can care for themselves, but real humanity is shown when we care for others.”

Fred knew that by helping others, you’re also helping yourself – he found the camaraderie and community kinship from reaching out to others soul-satisfying.

Photo credit: Michael Amendolia

7. “You really only accomplish yourself when you get involved with other people's welfare.” 

Fred knew that none of us are free until all of us are free.

8. “As human beings we must do things to help each other. Disequity diminishes us all.” 

Fred wasn’t bound by borders and had lived in and travelled to many countries, and knew that people all over the world have the same hopes, dreams and fears. And he dedicated his life to achieving equity through eye health.

9. “It doesn’t matter how we organise ourselves – into states, countries, federations – or how geography organises us – into islanders, continentals, uplanders or lowlanders – we are the same people.” 

Fred had a lot of faith in Australians, and The Foundation is a testament to that faith. It’s the ‘average Australian’ whose support makes our sight-restoring work possible.

Photo credit: Pat Fiske

10. “Caring about other people is what being a human is all about, and I have great faith in the humanitarian nature of the average Australian.”

COVER PHOTO: The Fred Hollows Foundation