The most difficult idea to reconcile in war is the notion that anything is going to be solved by killing a stranger, or in risking your life for a cause anchored in some distant political arena.
Walter Dean MyersRead
I began going to juvenile prisons. And some of these kids face some very, very tough lives. How do they handle these lives? Do they even know that if their life is bad, that they're still OK? Do they know that? Do they know that someone is thinking the same way that they're thinking?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the struggles faced by troubled youth and the importance of understanding and empathy towards their situations.
In this quote, Walter Dean Myers reflects on his experiences visiting juvenile prisons and the harsh realities that many young individuals confront. He questions whether these youths are aware that despite their difficult lives, they are not alone in their feelings and that someone else can relate to their struggles. The essence of the quote highlights the need for compassion and understanding towards marginalized youth, urging society to recognize their humanity and the commonalities in their thoughts and emotions.
Themes
YouthEmpathyStruggleUnderstandingCompassion
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about youth empowerment, you could say, 'As Walter Dean Myers reflects, many children in tough situations need to know they are not alone.'
More from Walter Dean Myers
All quotes →I remember one time being told I could not play in a basketball game at the College of William and Mary because I was black, even though I was playing with a United States Army team.
Walter Dean MyersRead
As a writer, I absorb stories, allow them to churn within my own head and heart - often for years - until I find a way of telling them that fits both my time and temperament.
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We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country is dependent on the participation of all of our citizens.
Walter Dean MyersRead
Yeah, that's funny, huh?...Something hurts you real bad and you get used to it. Like being hurt becomes part of who you are.
Walter Dean MyersRead
Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?
Walter Dean MyersRead
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