Country Quote by Jim Yong Kim
“Today there are a lot places where people say they're just hopeless. If I can come from a hopeless country, get an education, become a hyphenated American and become president of the World Bank, it's my moral duty to make sure that every single person on the planet has that opportunity.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: World Bank Annual Meeting, 2015
The speaker asserts a personal responsibility to expand global opportunity, drawing from his own journey from hardship to leadership.
In simple terms: He feels duty-bound to give others the same chances he had.
Key Takeaway
Use your success to lift others.
Themes
responsibility
opportunity
leadership
Mood
determined
inspirational
Type
call to action
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- mentoring
- scholarships
- community development
Key Concepts
social mobility
global equity
education
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions better support those from disadvantaged backgrounds?
- What concrete steps can leaders take to democratize opportunity?
A Different Perspective
Success alone does not guarantee systemic change; structural barriers persist.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
