--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Irony is that special privilege of…" description: "\"“Irony is that special privilege of wealthy nations;”\" — Euny Hong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg" --- # Irony is that special privilege of wealthy nations; ![“Irony is that special privilege of wealthy nations;” quote by Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg) > ““Irony is that special privilege of wealthy nations;”” [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wealthy countries enjoy a unique privilege that allows them to be ironic, highlighting contradictions in global power dynamics. **In simple terms:** Rich nations can be ironic about their own power. Key Takeaway Recognize irony in privilege. Themes global politics wealth irony social critique inequality Mood reflective critical analytical Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - international policy debates - academic conferences - media commentary Key Concepts privilege self‑awareness global responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does irony reveal hidden truths? - When does irony become ineffective? A Different Perspective Irony can be dismissed as sarcasm, reducing its impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Irony Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony-special-3968079/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Privilege Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege-wealthy-3968078/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Special Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-privilege-598332/) [Wealthy Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy-nations-2213208/) ## Related quotes > [“Less obviously, concern for the environment is a luxury good. Wealthy Americans are willing to spend more money to protect the environment as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wheelan/less-obviously-concern-for-the-environment-is-a-luxury-good-wealthy/) [Charles Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wheelan/) > [I am furious at the way that we have allowed money to subvert our democracy. I am appalled at the way that the U.S.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/i-am-furious-at-the-way-that-we-have-allowed-money-to-subvert-our/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [“African leaders should not turn the continent into a giant collector of donations and loans from wealthy nations—they must find other plausible means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duop-chak-wuol/african-leaders-should-not-turn-the-continent-into-a-giant-collector/) [Duop Chak Wuol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duop-chak-wuol/) > [The solidarity which binds all men together as members of a common family makes it impossible for wealthy nations to look with indifference upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/the-solidarity-which-binds-all-men-together-as-members-of-a-common/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [When you look at the 'New York Times,' you look at other elite media, what you largely get are pictures of very wealthy nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/when-you-look-at-the-new-york-times-you-look-at-other-elite-media/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [The money from wealthy nations to confront some very real global poverty and economic issues is largely given out of guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/the-money-from-wealthy-nations-to-confront-some-very-real-global/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [Equal opportunity is good, but special privilege is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-chennault/equal-opportunity-is-good-but-special-privilege-is-better/) [Anna Chennault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-chennault/) > [For the private sector to flourish, special privilege must give way to equal opportunity and equal risk for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/for-the-private-sector-to-flourish-special-privilege-must-give-way-to/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [It's special to me, a privilege being a role model. I take pride in being a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/it-s-special-to-me-a-privilege-being-a-role-model-i-take-pride-in/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [What is the special privilege of youth? It is, I think, the power of looking forward, the firm belief that the future holds something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-sitwell/what-is-the-special-privilege-of-youth-it-is-i-think-the-power-of/) [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) > [Being a scientist is a special privilege: for it brings the opportunity to be creative, the passionate quest for answers to nature's most precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-b-prusiner/being-a-scientist-is-a-special-privilege-for-it-brings-the/) [Stanley B. Prusiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-b-prusiner/) > [Let's prove that we're going to stand together, make the smart decisions that will get the economy going and growing for everybody, not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/let-s-prove-that-we-re-going-to-stand-together-make-the-smart/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It is the special privilege of the fine artist to reveal immediate data with a clarity, intensity and purity that promotes them to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-tobey/it-is-the-special-privilege-of-the-fine-artist-to-reveal-immediate/) [Alton Tobey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-tobey/) > [I believe in civil rights, but not in special privilege laws to allow flaunting homosexuals to become role models for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/i-believe-in-civil-rights-but-not-in-special-privilege-laws-to-allow/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [One who lays claim to special privilege through the priesthood doesn't understand the nature of his authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/one-who-lays-claim-to-special-privilege-through-the-priesthood-doesn/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) ## More by Euny Hong > [“Psy will go down in history as the first real twenty-first-century entertainer: who else could combine Confucianism and farting?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/psy-will-go-down-in-history-as-the-first-real-twenty-first-century/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“Samsung still needed to refashion its brand image. There was a worrisome phrase floating around the business world in the 1990s, the “Korea discount.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/samsung-still-needed-to-refashion-its-brand-image-there-was-a/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“When I asked why StarCraft 2 in particular was so popular in Korea, he said, “The game ends quickly, so you can start a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/when-i-asked-why-starcraft-2-in-particular-was-so-popular-in-korea-he/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“Korea has no natural resources and very little arable land. Compounding the problem is that labor costs have risen so dramatically in the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/korea-has-no-natural-resources-and-very-little-arable-land/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“The South Korean economy is a paradox: it is utterly capitalist, yet at the same time it is in some ways still a command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/the-south-korean-economy-is-a-paradox-it-is-utterly-capitalist-yet-at/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“According to Kim, 1998 was the turning point for Korean films entering the international arena. “In the fifty years up to 1997,” said Kim,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/according-to-kim-1998-was-the-turning-point-for-korean-films-entering/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“Kim Jong-il also invented the hamburger. Almost touchingly, North Koreans have a lot of pride in their heritage, though it’s for absurd reasons. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/kim-jong-il-also-invented-the-hamburger-almost-touchingly-north/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“The no-foreign-school-supplies rule was enforced by way of surprise inspections, heralded by the teacher suddenly yelling midlecture: “Everyone, put your hands on the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/the-no-foreign-school-supplies-rule-was-enforced-by-way-of-surprise/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“Psy is the paradigm shift within the paradigm shift. And his life and bewildering rise to fame are an embodiment of the changes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/psy-is-the-paradigm-shift-within-the-paradigm-shift-and-his-life-and/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“The Chosun Dynasty adopted Confucianism in all walks of civil and personal life at the beginning of the fifteenth century. The nation’s kings were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/the-chosun-dynasty-adopted-confucianism-in-all-walks-of-civil-and/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“Lee believes, as do the vast majority of South Koreans, that North Koreans are not so stupid that they fail to see the likelihood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/lee-believes-as-do-the-vast-majority-of-south-koreans-that-north/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“In recent decades, the biggest enemies of shamanism have been Korea’s many fervent Christians. Which, said Mason, is highly ironic, since Korean Christianity is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/in-recent-decades-the-biggest-enemies-of-shamanism-have-been-korea-s/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“Korean-made video games now constitute a quarter of the world market. Even most Koreans have no idea how big Korea’s gaming industry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/korean-made-video-games-now-constitute-a-quarter-of-the-world-market/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“In essence, shamanism is the belief that all happiness stems from harmony with nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/in-essence-shamanism-is-the-belief-that-all-happiness-stems-from/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) > [“culture critic Lee Moon-won opined, “Hallyu started with Samsung.” In other words, the popularity of Korean music and movies is hard to separate from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/culture-critic-lee-moon-won-opined-hallyu-started-with-samsung-in/) [Euny Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) [Explore all 65 Euny Hong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/) ## More Irony quotes > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [..ReLAtionship is just like reading a bo0k... it d0esnt w0rk if y0ur n0t on the same paGe..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megz/relationship-is-just-like-reading-a-bo0k-it-d0esnt-w0rk-if-y0ur-n0t/) [Megz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megz/) > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Some women walk towards a better future. Others have chauffeurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/some-women-walk-towards-a-better-future-others-have-chauffeurs/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [Why do single women take advice from other single women? That's like Stevie Wonder giving Ray Charles driving directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/why-do-single-women-take-advice-from-other-single-women-that-s-like/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [“... a man doesn't like to have his ego popped, especially when he prides himself on his sagacity, and then to be proved wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/a-man-doesn-t-like-to-have-his-ego-popped-especially-when-he-prides/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [These eyes see through all of your lies. My mind knows you're not right for me. My mouth tells you to leave. My heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-eyes-see-through-all-of-your-lies-my-mind-knows-you-re-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Teenagers: The most misunderstood people on earth. Treated like children and expected to act like adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/teenagers-the-most-misunderstood-people-on-earth-treated-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But any one watching keenly the stealthy convergence of human lots, sees a slow preparation of effects from one life on another, which tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-any-one-watching-keenly-the-stealthy-convergence-of-human-lots/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“He liked the Leedses. He was sorry that he had been to the morgue. He thought the madman who visited them might have liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-liked-the-leedses-he-was-sorry-that-he-had-been-to-the-morgue-he/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [The sense of tragedy - according to Aristotle - comes, ironically enough, not from the protagonist's weak points but from his good qualities. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sense-of-tragedy-according-to-aristotle-comes-ironically-enough/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“I've never written a quote I feel would be suitable for my gravestone. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were this one? Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-ve-never-written-a-quote-i-feel-would-be-suitable-for-my-gravestone/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Peter Cooper looks at the world with an artist's eye and a human heart and soul. His songs are the work of an original,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/peter-cooper-looks-at-the-world-with-an-artist-s-eye-and-a-human/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) [Browse all 1,888 Irony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Irony is that special privilege of wealthy nations;”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Euny Hong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealthy-nations/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Irony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealthy-nations/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/euny-hong-10249_irony_irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealt_2877256.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Irony is that special privilege of wealthy nations;” — Euny Hong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Euny Hong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-hong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Irony is that special privilege of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealthy-nations/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-hong/irony-is-that-special-privilege-of-wealthy-nations/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```