QuoteProject
The United States in particular and the West in general should be feeling a little embarrassed about all that lecturing we did to the Third World.
Paul Krugman
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the hypocrisy of developed nations criticizing developing countries while facing their own issues.

Paul Krugman's quote reflects on the moral high ground often taken by the United States and the West in their interactions with the Third World. It suggests that these developed nations may have overlooked their own flaws and challenges while pointing fingers at less developed countries, highlighting a sense of shame or embarrassment for their past attitudes and actions.

Themes

HypocrisyWestDeveloped NationsThird WorldCriticismSelf-Reflection

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion on international relations, this quote can remind us to consider our own actions before judging others.

More from Paul Krugman

Politics determines who has the power, not who has the truth.
Paul KrugmanRead
Our popular economics writers, however, are not in the business of giving their readers a ringside seat on the research action; with no exception I can think of, they use their books to do an end run around the normal structure of scholarship, to preach ideas that few serious economists share. Often, these ideas are not just at odds with the professional consensus; they are demonstrably wrong, and sometimes terminally silly. But they sound good to the unwary reader.
Paul KrugmanRead
The raw fact is that every successful example of economic development this past century ... has taken place via globalization.
Paul KrugmanRead
Wealthy Americans who benefit hugely from a system rigged in their favor react with hysteria to anyone who points out just how rigged the system is.
Paul KrugmanRead
It’s not about the budget; it’s about the power...So will the attack on unions succeed? I don’t know. But anyone who cares about retaining government of the people by the people should hope that it doesn’t.
Paul KrugmanRead
The economics profession went astray because economists, as a group, mistook beauty, clad in impressive-looking mathematics, for truth.
Paul KrugmanRead

Similar quotes

If I feel any marginalisation, it's because the things that concern me aren't so important to other people.
Patti SmithRead
If two people agree, one of them is unnecessary.
Henry FordRead
their powerlessness, innocence, and imagination fused to enable them to turn time inside out, travel on the wind, and enter the souls of animals.
Mark HelprinRead
The gospel of grace nullifies our adulation of televangelists, charismatic superstars, and local church heroes. It obliterates the two-class citizenship theory operative in many American churches. For grace proclaims the awesome truth that all is gift. All that is good is ours, not by right, but by the sheer bounty of a gracious God.
Brennan ManningRead
During our dreams we do not know we are dreaming. We may even dream of interpreting a dream. Only on waking do we know it was a dream. Only after the great awakening will we realize that this is the great dream.
ZhuangziRead
The ego doesn't know that the source of all energy is within you, so it seeks it outside.
Eckhart TolleRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.