One of our worst traits in journalism is that when we have a narrative in our minds, we often plug in anecdotes that confirm it. Thus we managed to portray President Gerald Ford, a first-rate athlete, as a klutz.
Nicholas KristofRead
A basic element of the American dream is equal access to education as the lubricant of social and economic mobility.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Education is essential for social and economic progress in America.
In this quote, Nicholas Kristof emphasizes that access to education is a fundamental aspect of the American dream, serving as a catalyst for social and economic mobility. He suggests that equal educational opportunities enable individuals to improve their circumstances and contribute to society, highlighting the critical role education plays in achieving success and equality.
Themes
EducationAmerican DreamSocial MobilityEqualityOpportunity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a school speech to advocate for equal educational opportunities.
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Most moms and dads, they want to be good moms and dads. But it's an incredibly hard job when you are stressed out, when you are poor, when your life is in chaos. And giving them some of the tools to be better parents, to whittle away at that parenting gap, gives those kids a much better starting point in life.
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Since the end of the 1970s, something has gone profoundly wrong in America. Inequality has soared. Educational progress slowed. Incarceration rates quintupled. Family breakdown accelerated. Median household income stagnated.
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The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might be able to stop these things from continuing.
Nicholas KristofRead
Why are fanatics so terrified of girls' education? Because there's no force more powerful to transform a society. The greatest threat to extremism isn't drones firing missiles, but girls reading books.
Nicholas KristofRead
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I am not impressed by the Ivy League establishments. Of course they graduate the best -- it's all they'll take, leaving to others the problem of educating the country. They will give you an education the way the banks will give you money -- provided you can prove to their satisfaction that you don't need it.
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