China is attempting the death-defying feat, which no one has attempted in the history of the world, which is to move a billion people out of poverty. When I speak to Chinese policy-makers, the thing that annoys them the most about Western policy-makers is that they're not given any credit for anything.
Interpretation
China is making an unprecedented effort to lift a billion people out of poverty and feels unrecognized for its achievements.
This quote by Dambisa Moyo highlights the extraordinary challenge China has taken on to eradicate poverty for a billion individuals, an effort considered unprecedented in history. Moyo points out the frustration of Chinese policy-makers regarding the lack of recognition from Western counterparts for their ambitious achievements, suggesting a broader theme of underappreciation of significant efforts in tackling global issues like poverty.
In practice
In a speech about global poverty reduction efforts, one might cite this quote to highlight China’s unique role.
Ask most people who live in a home and have a mortgage on it whether they own their own home and the answer is almost guaranteed to be a resounding 'yes'. Yet it's the wrong answer. Technically speaking, until they have paid the mortgage off, they don't own it. Herein lies the difference between reality and illusion, between ownership and control. This confusion lies not only at the individual level, but also at the heart of government thinking.
Under the all-encompassing aid system, too many places in Africa continue to flounder under inept, corrupt and despotic regimes who spend their time courting and catering to the demands of the army of aid organizations.
Too many African countries have already hit rock-bottom - ungoverned, poverty-stricken, and lagging further and further behind the rest of the world each day; there is nowhere further to go down.
I am fortunate: my parents told me the world was my oyster, when they could have said I wouldn't make it for a lot of reasons - rural, girl, small African country. So, no regrets.
I wish we questioned the aid model as much as we are questioning the capitalism model. Sometimes the most generous thing you can do is just say no.
The western mindset erroneously equates a political system of multi-party democracy with high-quality institutions... the two are not synonymous.
Work is the miracle by which talent is brought to the surface and dreams become reality.
There is only one person who can measure your success. That person is you.
If you are seizing on a new business opportunity, deliberately move your customers' expectations up a few notches and consistently over-deliver on your promises - you will leave your competitors struggling to catch up.
I came to Paris with four écus in my pocket, and I’d have fought with anybody who told me I was in no condition to buy the Louvre.
I set out very calculatedly to become known. The only thing I maybe miscalculated was how easy it would be.
A real businessman or entrepreneur has no enemies. Once he understand this, the sky's the limit.
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