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Cost Quote by Marian Wright Edelman

“As [Martin Luther] King said, it never cost anybody a dime to integrate the lunch counters. When you start talking about trying to deal with jobs and hunger and things that require investment, then that's really the tough stuff, because everybody wants to do right if it doesn't cost them anything.” quote by Marian Wright Edelman
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“As [Martin Luther] King said, it never cost anybody a dime to integrate the lunch counters. When you start talking about trying to deal with jobs and hunger and things that require investment, then that's really the tough stuff, because everybody wants to do right if it doesn't cost them anything.”

Marian Wright Edelman

About This Quote

Source Speech: Civil Rights Advocacy, 1990s (paraphrased)

The statement highlights that while low‑cost actions like integrating lunch counters are easy, confronting deeper systemic issues such as employment and hunger requires substantial investment and commitment.

In simple terms: Simple fixes are cheap; real change costs resources.

Key Takeaway

Invest in systemic solutions, not just easy gestures.

Themes

social justice economic inequality activism systemic change

Mood

determined urgent

Type

activist motivational

When to use this quote

  • community organizing
  • policy reform
  • education programs

Key Concepts

civil rights public policy resource allocation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What resources are needed to address hunger?
  • How can we motivate investment in systemic issues?
A Different Perspective

True change often demands financial and political will.

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