--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in a way a mystery that, instead of…" description: "\"It is in a way a mystery that, instead of demanding that their governments give primary attention to their own needs and aspirations, most of the citiz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/j-william-fulbright-7682_aspiration_it-is-in-a-way-a-mystery-that-instead-of_472197.png" --- # It is in a way a mystery that, instead of demanding that… ![“It is in a way a mystery that, instead of demanding that their governments give primary attention to their own needs and aspirations, most of the citizens of big counties-those, that is, that have the status of being "powers" in the world-far from being self-centered or materialistic as they are…” quote by J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/j-william-fulbright-7682_aspiration_it-is-in-a-way-a-mystery-that-instead-of_472197.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/j-william-fulbright-7682_aspiration_it-is-in-a-way-a-mystery-that-instead-of_472197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/j-william-fulbright-7682_aspiration_it-is-in-a-way-a-mystery-that-instead-of_472197.png) > “It is in a way a mystery that, instead of demanding that their governments give primary attention to their own needs and aspirations, most of the citizens of big counties-those, that is, that have the status of being "powers" in the world-far from being self-centered or materialistic as they are commonly credited with being, the ordinary citizen and his elected representative all too often turn out to be romantics, ready and eager to sacrifice programs of health, education and welfare for the power and pride of the nation…” [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens and leaders often prioritize national prestige over basic social services, sacrificing health, education, and welfare for power. **In simple terms:** People favor national pride over essential public services. Key Takeaway Balance national ambition with social welfare. Themes politics nationalism social welfare citizen responsibility Mood concerned reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy debates - community meetings - legislative sessions Key Concepts public policy collective sacrifice political psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure essential services aren't sacrificed for prestige? - What mechanisms protect welfare during nationalist surges? A Different Perspective National pride can be manipulated, leading to neglect of essential services. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-education/) [Materialistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialistic/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Ordinary citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-citizens/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centered/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I was the first American citizen to be elected to Congress in spite of the double drawbacks of being female and having skin darkened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-was-the-first-american-citizen-to-be-elected-to-congress-in-spite/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [If you run for mayor, people say you're being egotistical. 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Have they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/just-ask-yourself-what-rights-do-members-of-congress-enjoy-as-a/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [I consider it my patriotic duty as an ordinary citizen - not as Secretary of State - to ask questions. 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William Fulbright > [There has been a tendency through the years for reason and moderation to prevail as long as things are going tolerably well or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/there-has-been-a-tendency-through-the-years-for-reason-and-moderation/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [One simply cannot engage in barbarous action without becoming a barbarian, because one cannot defend human values by calculated and unprovoked violence without doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/one-simply-cannot-engage-in-barbarous-action-without-becoming-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [It is amazing how soon one becomes accustomed to the sound of ones voice, when forced to repeat a speech five or six times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/it-is-amazing-how-soon-one-becomes-accustomed-to-the-sound-of-ones/) [J. 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William Fulbright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) ## More Aspiration quotes > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. 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