The 'working poor,' as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society.
Barbara EhrenreichRead
The media have just buried the last yuppie, a pathetic creature who had not heard the news that the great pendulum of public consciousness has just swung from Greed to Compassion and from Tex-Mex to meatballs
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the shift in societal values from materialism to compassion.
Barbara Ehrenreich's quote captures a moment of societal transition where the focus of public consciousness is shifting away from greed and consumerism, symbolized by the 'yuppie', towards an emphasis on compassion and care for others. This shift indicates a broader change in priorities among people, suggesting a move toward valuing relationships and empathy over material success or consumer trends.
Themes
GreedCompassionSocietyPublic ConsciousnessValues
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about corporate responsibility, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of compassion over profit.
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I would never call myself a cancer survivor because I think it devalues those who do not survive. There's this whole mythology that people bravely battle their cancer and then they become survivors. Well, the ones who don't survive may be just as brave, you know, just as courageous, wonderful people.
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