Skip to content

How do we give credible hope to the billion poorest people…

“How do we give credible hope to the billion poorest people in the world? It requires compassion to get ourselves started, and enlightened self-interest to get serious... If economic divergence continues, combined with global integration, it will build a nightmare for our children.” quote by Paul Collier
Download Open image
“How do we give credible hope to the billion poorest people in the world? It requires compassion to get ourselves started, and enlightened self-interest to get serious... If economic divergence continues, combined with global integration, it will build a nightmare for our children.”

Paul Collier

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Addressing extreme poverty requires empathy to start and self‑interest to sustain; unchecked economic gaps threaten future generations.

In simple terms: Help the poorest with compassion and smart self‑interest; inequality harms everyone.

Key Takeaway

Combine compassion with pragmatic incentives.

Themes

poverty global inequality future generations policy

Mood

urgent hopeful

Type

policy motivational

When to use this quote

  • government programs
  • NGO initiatives
  • private sector investment
  • education reform

Key Concepts

social contract sustainable development

Questions to Reflect On

  • What incentives can align wealth with poverty reduction?
  • How can we balance compassion and self‑interest in policy?
A Different Perspective

Pure altruism may lack durability without personal stakes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Paul Collier

Explore all 24 Paul Collier quotes

More Billions quotes

Browse all 1,864 Billions quotes