Being successful Quote by Cornel West
“Greatness is telling the truth & being courageous in pursuit of justice. The worst thing you could tell young people is to be successful but become well-adjusted to an unjust status quo as opposed to being great & being maladjusted to an unjust status quo.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Race Matters by Cornel West, 1993
Greatness requires truth‑telling and courage to challenge unjust systems, rather than comfortable conformity.
In simple terms: Being great means confronting injustice.
Key Takeaway
Speak truth, act courageously.
Themes
justice
truth
courage
greatness
Mood
determined
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- activism
- education
- community organizing
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Moral integrity
social responsibility
ethical leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance personal safety with confronting injustice?
- What does “maladjusted” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Courage alone may not change entrenched power structures.
![“You can't really move forward until you look back. [From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University]” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/273/cornel-west-708_george-w_you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you_37313.jpg)
