I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn't, I'll create something else. I don't have any limitations on what I think I could do or be.
I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools (in America) that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn't there. If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the contrasting attitudes towards education between students in America and South Africa.
Oprah Winfrey's quote sheds light on the different values placed on education by students in inner-city America compared to those in South Africa. In her experience, American students often focus on material possessions like iPods and sneakers, implying a lack of intrinsic motivation for learning, whereas South African students prioritize uniforms, showing their desire for an opportunity to attend school and better their lives through education. This reflects a deeper societal issue regarding access to education and the appreciation of its significance.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on educational reform, this quote illustrates the necessity of making schools appealing and relevant to students.
More from Oprah Winfrey
All quotes →I have crossed over on the backs of Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Madam C. J. Walker. Because of them I can now live the dream. I am the seed of the free, and I know it. I intend to bear great fruit.
I believe that one of life's greatest risks is never daring to risk.
The only courage you will need is the courage to live the life you are meant to.
I know for sure that appreciating whatever shows up for you in life changes your personal vibration. You radiate and generate more goodness for yourself when you're aware of all you have and not focusing on your have-nots.
What you're thinking, what you're saying, what you're doing, is having an impact on you and the people around you
Similar quotes
Kids are never the problem. They are born scientists. The problem is always the adults. They beat the curiosity out of kids. They outnumber kids. They vote. They wield resources. That's why my public focus is primarily adults.
From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books. Pleased with the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' my first collection was of John Bunyan's works in separate little volumes.
The difference between where you are today and where you'll be five years from now will be found in the quality of books you've read.
Children love this idea that their brain is like a muscle that gets stronger as they use it.
Usually when we hear or read something new, we just compare it to our own ideas. If it is the same, we accept it and say that it is correct. If it is not, we say it is incorrect. In either case, we learn nothing.
One of the issues I kept saying to my students is you have to learn to interrupt. When you raise your hand at a meeting, by the time they get to you, the point is not germane. So the bottom line is active listening. If you are going to interrupt, you look for opportunities. You have to know what you're talking about.