The 'working poor,' as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society.
Interpretation
The working poor, despite their struggles, contribute significantly to society's welfare and philanthropy.
This quote by Barbara Ehrenreich highlights the paradox of the 'working poor', who, despite facing economic hardship, often engage in acts of charity and community support. Ehrenreich aims to challenge the perception of wealth and philanthropy by suggesting that those with limited resources can still possess a generous spirit, thus redefining what it means to be a philanthropist in society.
In practice
In a speech about community engagement, one might say, 'As Barbara Ehrenreich noted, the working poor are often the major philanthropists of our society.'
The secret of the truly successful, I believe, is that they learned very early in life how not to be busy. They saw through that adage, repeated to me so often in childhood, that anything worth doing is worth doing well. The truth is, many things are worth doing only in the most slovenly, halfhearted fashion possible, and many other things are not worth doing at all.
From the point of view of the pharmaceutical industry, the AIDS problem has already been solved. After all, we already have a drug which can be sold at the incredible price of $8,000 an annual dose, and which has the added virtue of not diminishing the market by actually curing anyone.
Well I do think there are people who are habitually negative and depressed and take the opposite approach because they imagine the worst, and their minds become dominated by that. They let their own emotions and expectations transform their perceptions of the world.
Some of us still get all weepy when we think about the Gaia Hypothesis, the idea that earth is a big furry goddess-creature who resembles everybody's mom in that she knows what's best for us. But if you look at the historical record - Krakatoa, Mt. Vesuvius, Hurricane Charley, poison ivy, and so forth down the ages - you have to ask yourself: Whose side is she on, anyway?
I would never call myself a cancer survivor because I think it devalues those who do not survive. There's this whole mythology that people bravely battle their cancer and then they become survivors. Well, the ones who don't survive may be just as brave, you know, just as courageous, wonderful people.
At best the family teaches the finest things human beings can learn from one another generosity and love. But it is also, all too often, where we learn nasty things like hate, rage and shame.
I would like to find a way in which people in Saudi Arabia could learn that they can be something other than a Muslim. Some people may not realize this. Of course, there is the problem that you can get in trouble or get stoned.
One of the roles of the press is to make sure that the president, in the voice of the people, is telling the truth.
But what can a decent man speak of with most pleasure? Answer: Of himself. Well, so I will talk about myself.
Maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy: Don't do to other nations what we don't want happening to us. We endlessly bomb these countries and then we wonder why they get upset with us?
In all private quarrels the duller nature is triumphant by reason of dullness.
The mind becomes accustomed to things by the habitual sight of them, and neither wonders nor inquires about the reasons for things it sees all the time.
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