Home / Quotes / Quote by Michael Yates

Quote by Michael Yates

“We are all, after all, just human beings, and most of us have a lot in common.”

Quote by Michael Yates

Author

Michael Yates is a renowned economist born in 1946. He has made significant contributions to the field of economics, particularly in labor economics and the structure of capitalist economies. more

You May Also Like

“What needs to be grasped is that the system itself is the cause of all of the misery in the world. This is a simple but powerful idea.”

World Needs Ideas Causes Simple Powerful Misery

Author:Michael Yates

“Many activists don't want to hear about some grand narrative, one that could unify all of our struggles. So the major issue that needs to be addressed is how to get people to see that there is indeed a grand narrative which just happens to be true.”

People Want Needs Happens Struggle Issues Majors Being True Narrative Activist

Author:Michael Yates

“Capitalism is, in Mao's language, the main contradiction in the world today and so our efforts have to be focused on ending this system and making a new one.”

World Today Language Effort Capitalism Focused Contradiction World Today Mao

Author:Michael Yates

“We know form past experience that when you put women's issues or face issues on the back burner, they never get dealt with. So all struggles have to be dealt with simultaneously, but within an anti-capitalist framework. A monumental task, but nothing less will do.”

Knows Past Faces Form Struggle Issues Tasks Capitalist Framework Past Experiences Back Burner

Author:Michael Yates

“We should assume that we all have a lot in common. Speak as if our views are the only sensible ones. This resonates with ordinary people, as long as we speak ordinary language and don't come across as elitists.”

People Ifs Should Long Speak Language Views Common Ordinary Assuming Sensible Ordinary People Elitist

Author:Michael Yates

“You can't take the view of some of the sectarian parties that hard issues can't be confronted when dealing with workers. If you don't confront these issues, what will ever change?”

Ifs Hard Views Party Issues Workers

Author:Michael Yates

“You have to consider all workers as your equals and speak matter of factly about things. People do want to understand things and respect you if you know what they do not know. And you have to respect what they know that you do not.”

People Ifs Knows Want Matter Speak Workers Matter Of Fact

Author:Michael Yates

“You have to get out in the world and meet folks on their own turf, something which a lot of urban radical intellectuals seldom do.”

World Folks Radical Urban Turf

Author:Michael Yates

“Most people in this country, while they might not be happy about things, also are woefully ignorant about many things. Sometimes people can learn, but other times they have to be confronted.”

People Country Sometimes Might Ignorant

Author:Michael Yates

“Not many academics do labor education. Why not? The need is great. This is where the youth are so important. If faculty were as engaged as young students are in anti sweatshop campaigns, prison campaigns, etc., it would be a good thing.”

Ifs Needs Important Would Be Young Youth Students Labor Prison Good Things Campaigns Engaged Etc Faculty Why Not Sweatshops Young Students

Author:Michael Yates