--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confronted with the unhappy facts of…" description: "\"Confronted with the unhappy facts of exclusion, we sometimes reassure ourselves by telling stories: the poor boys who made it, theblacks who became a \"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/kenneth-keniston-25055_ability_confronted-with-the-unhappy-facts-of-exc_437124.jpg" --- # Confronted with the unhappy facts of exclusion, we… ![“Confronted with the unhappy facts of exclusion, we sometimes reassure ourselves by telling stories: the poor boys who made it, theblacks who became a "credit to their race," the women elected to high office, the handicapped who made "useful contributions" to our society… Just as we believe in the…” quote by Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/kenneth-keniston-25055_ability_confronted-with-the-unhappy-facts-of-exc_437124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/kenneth-keniston-25055_ability_confronted-with-the-unhappy-facts-of-exc_437124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/kenneth-keniston-25055_ability_confronted-with-the-unhappy-facts-of-exc_437124.jpg) > “Confronted with the unhappy facts of exclusion, we sometimes reassure ourselves by telling stories: the poor boys who made it, theblacks who became a "credit to their race," the women elected to high office, the handicapped who made "useful contributions" to our society… Just as we believe in the self-sufficient family, we also believe that any child with enough grit and ability can escape poverty and make a rewarding life. But these stories and beliefs clearly reflect the exceptions.” [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories of exceptional individuals are used to justify belief that anyone can overcome poverty with grit, ignoring systemic barriers. **In simple terms:** People claim success is solely due to personal effort, overlooking structural inequality. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic factors alongside personal effort. Themes inequality meritocracy exceptionalism social mobility narratives Mood reflective critical hopeful Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - Education policy - poverty alleviation programs - community mentorship - media representation - public discourse Key Concepts Structural inequality psychology of hope exceptionalism social narratives Questions to Reflect On - What systemic changes could reduce reliance on "exceptional" stories? - How do such narratives affect policy priorities? A Different Perspective These narratives can perpetuate victim-blaming and ignore needed reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Exception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exception/) [Exclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusion/) [Exclusion Reassure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclusion-reassure-3840687/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Grit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grit/) [Handicapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handicapped/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Made it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-it/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-boy/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-make-572274/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sufficient/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-beliefs-3840686/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Sufficient Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient-family-3840688/) [Telling stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-stories/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) ## Related quotes > [70% of children born into poverty will never make it to the middle class. The uncomfortable truth is that there are now a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/70-of-children-born-into-poverty-will-never-make-it-to-the-middle/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [There's a lot of money in wars, except in the war on poverty. Can't make any bread helping the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/there-s-a-lot-of-money-in-wars-except-in-the-war-on-poverty-can-t/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) > [For, when you are approaching poverty, you make one discovery which outweighs some of the others. You discover boredom and mean complications and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/for-when-you-are-approaching-poverty-you-make-one-discovery-which-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The only way to end poverty, to make it history, is to build viable systems on the ground that deliver critical and affordable goods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/the-only-way-to-end-poverty-to-make-it-history-is-to-build-viable/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [“Poverty can make people self-centered”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ines-thorn/poverty-can-make-people-self-centered/) [Ines Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ines-thorn/) > [“Poverty will make the best people bad, if it gets hard enough. Why there’s so much of it in the world, I’m sure I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/poverty-will-make-the-best-people-bad-if-it-gets-hard-enough-why/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“So in concrete terms, just how much dumber does poverty make you? “Our effects correspond to between 13 and 14 IQ points,” Shafir says.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/so-in-concrete-terms-just-how-much-dumber-does-poverty-make-you-our/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [If America does not use her vast resources of wealth to end poverty and make it possible for all of God's children to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-america-does-not-use-her-vast-resources-of-wealth-to-end-poverty/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is misleading to discuss recent changes in family life without emphasizing the fact that for generations some Americans have had to raise children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/it-is-misleading-to-discuss-recent-changes-in-family-life-without/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Lately I've been runnin' on faith. What else can a poor boy do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lynn-williams/lately-i-ve-been-runnin-on-faith-what-else-can-a-poor-boy-do/) [Jerry Lynn Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lynn-williams/) > [“Nobody approves of the ballerina and the poor boy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichele-reese/nobody-approves-of-the-ballerina-and-the-poor-boy/) [Nichele Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichele-reese/) > [Would they See a poor boy? No siree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aladdin/would-they-see-a-poor-boy-no-siree/) [Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aladdin/) > [ Education had been a great gift for him \[Ziauddin\]. He believed that lack of education was the root of all the Pakistan's problems. Ignorance… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/education-had-been-a-great-gift-for-him-ziauddin-he-believed-that/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [Who ever saw his old clothes, - his old coat, actually worn out, resolved into its primitive elements, so that it was not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/who-ever-saw-his-old-clothes-his-old-coat-actually-worn-out-resolved/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Through it all, this wild life on and off the road , through Jordanian deserts , Spanish islands, German prisons, Caribbean tax scams, halls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-burdon/through-it-all-this-wild-life-on-and-off-the-road-through-jordanian/) [Eric Burdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-burdon/) ## More by Kenneth Keniston > [Today's parents have little authority over those others with whom they share the task of raising their children. On the contrary,most parents deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/today-s-parents-have-little-authority-over-those-others-with-whom/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [The myth of the self-sufficient individual and of the self-sufficient, protected, and protective familytells us that those who need help are ultimately inadequate. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/the-myth-of-the-self-sufficient-individual-and-of-the-self-sufficient/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Within forty years of their arrival in the Plymouth colony, the first white settlers were afraid their children had lost the dedication and religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/within-forty-years-of-their-arrival-in-the-plymouth-colony-the-first/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [In the early nineteenth century, the doctrine of self-sufficiency came to apply to families as well as individuals… The familybecame a special protected place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/in-the-early-nineteenth-century-the-doctrine-of-self-sufficiency-came/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Recognizing that family self-sufficiency is a false myth, we also need to acknowledge that all today's families need help in raising children. The problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/recognizing-that-family-self-sufficiency-is-a-false-myth-we-also-need/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [The psychological pain--and the ethical shame--of American poverty are made greater by the fact that this country possesses the wealth and the energy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/the-psychological-pain-and-the-ethical-shame-of-american-poverty-are/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Mothers work outside the home for many reasons; one of them is almost always because their families need their income to live up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/mothers-work-outside-the-home-for-many-reasons-one-of-them-is-almost/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [In the end, the fate of children depends on our ability to use technology constructively and carefully. The connection of childrenand technology is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/in-the-end-the-fate-of-children-depends-on-our-ability-to-use/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [One current reaction to change in families, for example, is the proposal for more "education for parenthood," on the theory that this training will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/one-current-reaction-to-change-in-families-for-example-is-the/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [The most important difference between these early American families and our own is that early families constituted economic unitsin which all members, from young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/the-most-important-difference-between-these-early-american-families/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Poor children live in a particularly dangerous world--an urban world of broken stair railings, of busy streets serving as playgrounds, of lead paint, rats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/poor-children-live-in-a-particularly-dangerous-world-an-urban-world/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Parents still have primary responsibility for raising children, but they must have the power to do so in ways consistent with their children's needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/parents-still-have-primary-responsibility-for-raising-children-but/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [In the past the intrinsic pleasures of parenthood for most American families were increased by the extrinsic economic return thatchildren brought. Today, parents have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/in-the-past-the-intrinsic-pleasures-of-parenthood-for-most-american/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [Despite the long-term reduction in familial roles and functions, we believe that parents are still the world's greatest experts about the needs of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/despite-the-long-term-reduction-in-familial-roles-and-functions-we/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [It is misleading to discuss recent changes in family life without emphasizing the fact that for generations some Americans have had to raise children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/it-is-misleading-to-discuss-recent-changes-in-family-life-without/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) [Explore all 23 Kenneth Keniston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Confronted with the unhappy facts of exclusion, we sometimes reassure ourselves by telling stories: the poor boys who made it, theblacks who became a \"credit to their race,\" the women elected to high office, the handicapped who made \"useful contributions\" to our society… Just as we believe in the self-sufficient family, we also believe that any child with enough grit and ability can escape poverty and make a rewarding life. 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