I always want to tell these young idealists that the world is not as dangerous as many in the older generation want them to believe...The [people] for whom I feel the greatest sadness are the ones who choke on their beliefs, who never act on their ideals, who never know the state of struggle in a decent cause, and never know the thrill of even partial victories.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of idealism and action, suggesting that fear should not inhibit our beliefs and pursuits.
In this quote, Jonathan Kozol reflects on the contrast between the fears often instilled by older generations and the potential for young idealists to experience meaningful action in their beliefs. He expresses concern for those who become stagnant in their convictions, missing out on the challenges and rewards that come from striving for a noble cause. Kozol encourages embracing the struggle and partial victories that come with pursuing one's ideals, highlighting that real engagement in meaningful actions is essential for personal growth and fulfillment.
In practice
In a motivational speech to students about embracing their dreams and taking action.
A great deal has been written in recent years about the purported lack of motivation in the children of the Negro ghettos. Little in my experience supports this, yet the phrase has been repeated endlessly, and the blame in almost all cases is placed somewhere outside the classroom.
Schooling should not be left to the whim or wealth of village elders. I believe that we should fund all schools in the U.S. with our national resources. All these kids are being educated to be Americans, not citizens of Minneapolis or San Francisco.
An awful lot of people come to college with this strange idea that there's no longer segregation in America's schools, that our schools are basically equal; neither of these things is true.
Hypersegregated inner-city schools - in which one finds no more than five or ten white children, at the very most, within a student population of as many as 3,000 - are the norm, not the exception, in most northern urban areas today.
I wrote the first book, and I thought people would say: 'Separate and unequal schools in the City of Boston? I didn't know that. Let's go out and fix it.'
The trouble is not that schools don't work; they do. They're excellent machines for achieving historically accepted purposes. In suburban schools are children of the rich, who grow up to privilege and anesthetic oblivion to pain - and who then use the servants produced by ghetto schools.
Don’t underestimate the value of irony—it is extremely valuable.
A dozen times a day we come to a fork in the road and must decide which way we will go. It is important to get our ultimate objectives clearly in mind so that we do not become distracted at each fork in the road by the irrelevant questions: Which is the easier or more pleasant way? Or, Which way are others going?
There's a reason you can learn from everything: you have basic wisdom, basic intelligence, and basic goodness.
Humility, as we all know, is one of those virtues that is never gained by seeking it. The more we pursue it the more distant it becomes. To think we have it is sure evidence that we don't.
Of all that writ, he was the wisest bard, who spoke this mighty truth- He that knew all that ever learning writ, Knew only this-that he knew nothing yet.
I’m thirty,” I said. “I’m five years too old to lie to myself and call it honor
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