One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead
People are the common denominator of progress. So no improvement is possible with unimproved people, and advance is certain when people are liberated and educated. It would be wrong to dismiss the importance of roads, railroads, power plants, mills,and the other familiar furniture of economic development. But we are coming to realize that there is a certain sterility in economic monuments that stand alone in a sea of illiteracy. Conquest of illiteracy comes first.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that progress relies on the improvement of people through education and literacy rather than just infrastructure.
John Kenneth Galbraith highlights the importance of human development as the foundation of societal progress. While physical advancements like infrastructure are necessary, they become ineffective without educated individuals who can utilize them. The quote suggests that literacy and education are the keys to unlocking true economic and social progress, stressing that without improvement in the populace, advancements in technology and infrastructure are superficial and ineffective.
Themes
EducationProgressLiteracyImprovementEconomic Development
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a seminar about the importance of education in community development.
More from John Kenneth Galbraith
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Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
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People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.
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