--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once Joe Paterno learned that his former…" description: "\"Once Joe Paterno learned that his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was showering with a young boy in the Penn State football locker room, he had t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/christine-pelosi-12633_assistant_once-joe-paterno-learned-that-his-former_3225220.png" --- # Once Joe Paterno learned that his former assistant coach… ![“Once Joe Paterno learned that his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was showering with a young boy in the Penn State football locker room, he had two choices: think of the child as his own and call police. Or not. He chose the latter.” quote by Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/christine-pelosi-12633_assistant_once-joe-paterno-learned-that-his-former_3225220.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/christine-pelosi-12633_assistant_once-joe-paterno-learned-that-his-former_3225220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/christine-pelosi-12633_assistant_once-joe-paterno-learned-that-his-former_3225220.png) > “Once Joe Paterno learned that his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was showering with a young boy in the Penn State football locker room, he had two choices: think of the child as his own and call police. Or not. He chose the latter.” [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A leader faced a moral choice about reporting abuse and chose inaction, highlighting failure of responsibility. **In simple terms:** He ignored abuse instead of reporting it. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for protecting the vulnerable. Themes ethics leadership justice Mood somber critical Type statement expository When to use this quote - sports administration - child protection - legal duty Key Concepts morality institutional failure Questions to Reflect On - What prevents people from acting on known abuse? - How can institutions enforce accountability? A Different Perspective Denial can perpetuate harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Locker room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locker-room/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Two choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-choices/) ## Related quotes > [We can never be like it was at Penn State with Joe Paterno. That was an anomaly in an of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/we-can-never-be-like-it-was-at-penn-state-with-joe-paterno-that-was/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [From now on, anyone raped at Penn State should just tell Joe Paterno's statue. It couldn't help you any less than the real Joe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/from-now-on-anyone-raped-at-penn-state-should-just-tell-joe-paterno-s/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [One out of every eight Pennsylvanians and one in every 720 people in the United States, as well as one out of every 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/one-out-of-every-eight-pennsylvanians-and-one-in-every-720-people-in/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [We also want to make sure Penn State becomes a national leader in this whole area of child abuse prevention and treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-erickson/we-also-want-to-make-sure-penn-state-becomes-a-national-leader-in/) [Rodney Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-erickson/) > [Since its founding in 1854, Penn State has proven to be a leading institution of higher learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/since-its-founding-in-1854-penn-state-has-proven-to-be-a-leading/) [Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/) > [Penn State is a leader in food science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/penn-state-is-a-leader-in-food-science/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [Penn State in 1955 became the first university to be issued a federal license to operate a nuclear reactor, which it continues to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/penn-state-in-1955-became-the-first-university-to-be-issued-a-federal/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [Penn State was an awesome school. When I went and visited there, I was like 'Alright, I want to spend four years of college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/penn-state-was-an-awesome-school-when-i-went-and-visited-there-i-was/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [I've had a wonderful experience here at Penn State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-ve-had-a-wonderful-experience-here-at-penn-state/) [Joe Paterno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-paterno/) > [Penn State has made me into the person I am today. I've been surrounded and taught by so many people there. That university makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/penn-state-has-made-me-into-the-person-i-am-today-i-ve-been/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [The 150th anniversary of Penn State will highlight what is important and good about this distinguished institution and the fine people and research that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-sherwood/the-150th-anniversary-of-penn-state-will-highlight-what-is-important/) [Don Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-sherwood/) > [I'm from Pennsylvania. I grew up watching Penn State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/i-m-from-pennsylvania-i-grew-up-watching-penn-state/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [It was a great experience at Penn State. I could not have asked for anything more from Penn State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-nassib/it-was-a-great-experience-at-penn-state-i-could-not-have-asked-for/) [Carl Nassib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-nassib/) > [I have a graduate degree from Penn State. I studied at Penn State under a noted Hemingway scholar, Philip Young. I had an interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrell/i-have-a-graduate-degree-from-penn-state-i-studied-at-penn-state/) [David Morrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrell/) > [Penn State is much bigger than the actions of a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cael-sanderson/penn-state-is-much-bigger-than-the-actions-of-a-few/) [Cael Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cael-sanderson/) ## More by Christine Pelosi > [If we say we believe in equality for all then we must fight for equality for all, not betray our immigrant sisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/if-we-say-we-believe-in-equality-for-all-then-we-must-fight-for/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [With Citizens United, the Supreme Court's declaration that corporations are people, the whims of one can silence the voices of millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/with-citizens-united-the-supreme-court-s-declaration-that/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [Conservatives and companies condoned Rush Limbaugh's politics of personal destruction when it came to smearing elected officials. 'Fair game,' they said, even when crass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/conservatives-and-companies-condoned-rush-limbaugh-s-politics-of/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [Voting is a civic sacrament - the highest responsibility we have as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/voting-is-a-civic-sacrament-the-highest-responsibility-we-have-as/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [President Obama and Democrats won a mandate to move us forward with jobs, healthcare reform, equality, and nation building here at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/president-obama-and-democrats-won-a-mandate-to-move-us-forward-with/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [When Proposition 8 passed in California, some were quick to blame minority voters, some of whom had voted for both President Obama and Proposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/when-proposition-8-passed-in-california-some-were-quick-to-blame/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > ['Man up' is a sexist term that should be retired along with all the other gender-based imperious imperatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/man-up-is-a-sexist-term-that-should-be-retired-along-with-all-the/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [Once you run and once you win with an unabashed progressive feminist standard, then it becomes easier for everybody else who's running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/once-you-run-and-once-you-win-with-an-unabashed-progressive-feminist/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [The last time I saw Ted Kennedy was a generation after my first meeting, at the Senate subway below the Capitol on Obama's Inauguration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/the-last-time-i-saw-ted-kennedy-was-a-generation-after-my-first/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [To far too many, science is a four-letter word, and under the modern media's false equivalency standards, a handful of skeptics are viewed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/to-far-too-many-science-is-a-four-letter-word-and-under-the-modern/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [When it comes to voting rights, Democrats push voter protection while Republicans shout voter fraud in a crowded polling place. Democrats think anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/when-it-comes-to-voting-rights-democrats-push-voter-protection-while/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [My earliest memories of my mom were of her multi-tasking - preparing dinner while checking on homework and housework; clearing the dinner plates while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/my-earliest-memories-of-my-mom-were-of-her-multi-tasking-preparing/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [When women vote, Progressives can win. When women organize and bring some common sense to the conversation, it becomes more authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/when-women-vote-progressives-can-win-when-women-organize-and-bring/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [I worked as a prosecutor watching Catholic priests charged with sex abuse and saw firsthand how the 'circle the wagons' mentality revictimized the innocent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/i-worked-as-a-prosecutor-watching-catholic-priests-charged-with-sex/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [Tax what you burn not what you earn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/tax-what-you-burn-not-what-you-earn/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) [Explore all 54 Christine Pelosi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) ## More Assistant quotes > [I'm a good assistant. 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We have a big week ahead of us, and I can’t afford you falling dead on me.” “I don’t think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-nicole-maehrer/see-the-healer-sage-we-have-a-big-week-ahead-of-us-and-i-can-t-afford/) Hannah Nicole Maehrer > [As an assistant, when you wake up in the morning, you're opening your laptop and watching film. Then the game starts, and you're watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/as-an-assistant-when-you-wake-up-in-the-morning-you-re-opening-your/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [As a young guy, you talk to the assistant coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/as-a-young-guy-you-talk-to-the-assistant-coach/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [I'm fortunate to have a team of people who help me. I've got an assistant, an office manager, a nanny - she's not full-time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-m-fortunate-to-have-a-team-of-people-who-help-me-i-ve-got-an/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [When I became the assistant, I was intelligent and helpful. I had patience. As the head coach I was completely the opposite. 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