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Quote by James Q. Wilson

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James Q. Wilson
James Q. Wilson

James Q. Wilson was an accomplished American political scientist and sociologist, known for his work in criminology, political theory, and public administration. His writings have had a profound impact on public policy and the social sciences. more

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“During the 1960s, one neighborhood in San Francisco had the lowest income, the highest unemployment rate, the highest proportion of families with incomes under four thousand dollars a year, the least educational attainment, the highest tuberculosis rate, and the highest proportion of substandard housing ... That neighborhood was called Chinatown. Yet, in 1965, there were only five persons of Chinese ancestry committed to prison in the entire state of California.”

YearsPersonsStatesFiveFourThousandHighestDollarsPrisonRateCommittedEducationalIncomeChineseCaliforniaProportionNeighborhoodUnemploymentLowestHousingSan Francisco1960sAttainmentAncestryTuberculosisUnemployment RateChinatown
Author:James Q. Wilson
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“Mama used to tell us a story about a cicada sitting high in a tree. It chirps and drinks in dew, oblivious to the praying mantis behind it. The mantis arches up its front leg to stab the cicada, but it doesn't know an oriole perches behind it. The bird stretches out its neck to snap up the mantis for a midday meal, but its unaware of the boy who's come into the garden with a net. Three creatures—the cicada, the mantis and the oriole—all coveted gains without being aware of the greater and inescapable danger that was coming.”

KnowsStoriesUsedThreeBehindsBoysGreaterTreeFrontsDangerPrayingDrinkCreaturesBirdSittingGainsGardenLegsMealsNecksMamaDewSnapsArchesObliviousCicadasPraying Mantis
Author:Lisa See
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