For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don't break the law, you're not a good black person.
Charles BarkleyRead
Kids are great. That's one of the best things about our business, all the kids you get to meet. It's a shame they have to grow up to be regular people and come to the games and call you names.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the joy and innocence of children, while acknowledging the bittersweet transition to adulthood.
Charles Barkley's quote reflects the unique and joyful perspective that children bring, emphasizing the wonderful interactions adults have with them in a business context. However, it also conveys a sense of nostalgia and sadness about the inevitable maturation of children into adults who can sometimes be critical or harsh, suggesting that growing up may strip away some of that innocence and joy.
In practice
In a motivational speech about the importance of nurturing our youth, I might quote Charles Barkley.
For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don't break the law, you're not a good black person.
Kids are born into the situation they're born into, and obviously, they have no control over that. And we, as adults, it's up to us to take care of kids - that's part of your moral responsibility. I always tell people, 'There's two groups we should take care of - old people and young people.'
What I told [my teammates] after the game was I'm just fortunate [for] my 16 years because, this [injury] can happen every single night you go out and play... It can be over in one instant, so you should appreciate everyday.
I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models.
I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models.... It's not like it was when I was growing up. My mom and my grandmother told me how it was going to be. If I didn't like it, they said, Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. Parents have to take better control.
I always laugh when people ask me about rebounding techniques. I've got a technique. It's called just go get the damn ball.
A terrible depression yesterday. Visions of my life petering out into a kind of soft-brained stupor from lack of use.
Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.
'Oscar Wao' for example cohered in a period of terrible distress. All the novels that I wanted to write were not happening.
I felt like a rich vagabond who had passed through the world paving my way with gold fairy dust, then realizing too late that the path disintegrated as soon as I passed over it.
There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
Life is like a trumpet - if you don't put anything into it, you don't get anything out of it.
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