Quotessence
Home / Authors / Jonathan Kozol
Jonathan Kozol

Jonathan Kozol Quotes

Writer

Filter quotes by topic

AllChildrenSchoolPeopleIfsYearsTeacherHas BeensKnowsNationsCitiesFirstsTeachingYoungBookEducationFeelsKindNeedsPoorWells

Famous Jonathan Kozol Quotes

“Many of us regard ourselves as mildly liberal or centrist politically, voice fairly pleasant sentiments about our poor children, contribute money to send poor kids to summer camp, feel benevolent. We're not nazis; we're nice people. We read sophisticated books. We go to church. We go to synagogue. Meanwhile, we put other people's children into an economic and environmental death zone. We make it hard for them to get out. We strip the place bare of amenities. And we sit back and say to ourselves, "Well, I hope that they don't kill each other off. But if they do, it's not my fault.”

PeopleIfsFeelsWellsChildrenBookHardKidsVoiceChurchPoorNiceEconomicSummerRegardFaultsEnvironmentalPleasantZoneSentimentsCampsSophisticatedNaziBenevolentNice PeopleSynagogueSummer CampAmenitiesPoor Children
Author:Jonathan Kozol
Create image

“I always want to tell these young idealists that the world is not as dangerous as many in the older generation want them to believe...The [people] for whom I feel the greatest sadness are the ones who choke on their beliefs, who never act on their ideals, who never know the state of struggle in a decent cause, and never know the thrill of even partial victories.”

PeopleKnowsWorldWantFeelsBelieveStatesYoungBeliefCausesStruggleGenerationsSadnessDangerousVictoryIdealsDecentThrillChokeIdealistOlder Generation
Author:Jonathan Kozol
Create image

“The rich...should beg the poor to forgive us for the bread we bring them. Healthy people sometimes feel they need to beg forgiveness too, although there is no reason why. Maybe we simply ask forgiveness for not being born where these poor women have been born, knowing that if we lived here too, our fate might well have been the same.”

PeopleIfsNeedsFeelsShouldWellsHas BeensSometimesReasonMightAsksBornPoorKnowingRichFateHealthyForgivingBreadReason WhyNo ReasonAsking For Forgiveness
Author:Jonathan Kozol
Create image

“I write books to change the world. Perhaps I can only change one little piece of that world. But if I can empower teachers and good citizens to give these children, who are the poorest of the poor, the same opportunity we give our own kids, then I'll feel my life has been worth it.”

IfsWorldGivingFeelsWritingChildrenLittlesHas BeensI CanBookKidsOpportunityPoorTeacherPiecesCitizensChanging The WorldEmpoweringWorth ItPoorestGood Citizen
Author:Jonathan Kozol
Create image