--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every high school and college graduate in…" description: "\"Every high school and college graduate in America should, I think, have some familiarity with statistics, economics and a foreign language such as Span..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/nicholas-kristof-6723_america_every-high-school-and-college-graduate-i_161260.jpg" --- # Every high school and college graduate in America should… ![“Every high school and college graduate in America should, I think, have some familiarity with statistics, economics and a foreign language such as Spanish. Religion may not be as indispensable, but the humanities should be a part of our repertory. They may not enrich our wallets, but they do…” quote by Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/nicholas-kristof-6723_america_every-high-school-and-college-graduate-i_161260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/nicholas-kristof-6723_america_every-high-school-and-college-graduate-i_161260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/nicholas-kristof-6723_america_every-high-school-and-college-graduate-i_161260.jpg) > “Every high school and college graduate in America should, I think, have some familiarity with statistics, economics and a foreign language such as Spanish. Religion may not be as indispensable, but the humanities should be a part of our repertory. They may not enrich our wallets, but they do enrich our lives. They civilize us. They provide context.” [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Broad education—stats, economics, language, humanities—enriches understanding, civic life, and personal growth beyond monetary gain. **In simple terms:** Learning diverse subjects deepens insight and culture. Key Takeaway Pse a, study varied fields. Themes education humanities economics statistics languages personal development Mood inspirational thoughtful Type educational motivational When to use this quote - college curricula - career planning - public policy debates - personal enrichment Key Concepts interdisciplinary learning critical thinking civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - Which subject could most expand your worldview? - How do you integrate humanities into daily life? A Different Perspective Time constraints may limit depth in each area. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Foreign language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-language/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Humanities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanities/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) ## Related quotes > [The imperative of protecting religious freedom was not just a nod in the direction of piety. It reflects the Framers' belief that religion was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/the-imperative-of-protecting-religious-freedom-was-not-just-a-nod-in/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [What use could the humanities be in a digital age? University students focusing on the humanities may end up, at least in their parents'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/what-use-could-the-humanities-be-in-a-digital-age-university-students/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Our world is enriched when coders and marketers dazzle us with smartphones and tablets, but, by themselves, they are just slabs. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/our-world-is-enriched-when-coders-and-marketers-dazzle-us-with/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [I have a one-question language test that people who have lived abroad do better on than those who studied in a classroom. Try my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-have-a-one-question-language-test-that-people-who-have-lived-abroad/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [We have this idea in our minds that there's this separation of church and state in America, which I think is a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-have-this-idea-in-our-minds-that-there-s-this-separation-of-church/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [So I was thinking I go to America. I think that would work, conquering America. Because they're so upbeat and positive and polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-morgan/so-i-was-thinking-i-go-to-america-i-think-that-would-work-conquering/) [Diane Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-morgan/) > [As I read some of these quotes and comments, I am thinking to myself, how ungrateful nation we have become. This country offers hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-olomi/as-i-read-some-of-these-quotes-and-comments-i-am-thinking-to-myself/) Farid Olomi > [ We have got to fight it \[Communism\] with something better, not try to conceal the thinking of our own people. They are part of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-got-to-fight-it-communism-with-something-better-not-try-to/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I love America. I think it's the best country in the world. But I also think we're not tending to our sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-love-america-i-think-it-s-the-best-country-in-the-world-but-i-also/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [We're in a mess in America, and it's because of what you think. We're in a mess because of your party. We're in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-a-mess-in-america-and-it-s-because-of-what-you-think-we-re/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Everybody has their own America, and then they have pieces of a fantasy America that they think is out there but they can't see.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/everybody-has-their-own-america-and-then-they-have-pieces-of-a/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [ If I hadn't been living here \[in America\], do you think we would have gotten a Grammy? No chance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/if-i-hadn-t-been-living-here-in-america-do-you-think-we-would-have/) [Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/) > [When you say if you have faith in America, I think it's the faith in the fact that we're going to end up changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-you-say-if-you-have-faith-in-america-i-think-it-s-the-faith-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I don't think Muslims do hate America. I think that's what we hear and that's what we believe. I don't think that's true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-spurlock/i-don-t-think-muslims-do-hate-america-i-think-that-s-what-we-hear-and/) [Morgan Spurlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-spurlock/) > [I think we are dying in America, I think our democracy is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lee-jones/i-think-we-are-dying-in-america-i-think-our-democracy-is-over/) [Rickie Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lee-jones/) ## More by Nicholas Kristof > [I have a one-question language test that people who have lived abroad do better on than those who studied in a classroom. Try my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-have-a-one-question-language-test-that-people-who-have-lived-abroad/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [There's something to be said for CEOs' entering politics: In theory, they have management expertise and financial savvy. Then again, it didn't work so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-ceos-entering-politics-in-theory/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [A basic element of the American dream is equal access to education as the lubricant of social and economic mobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/a-basic-element-of-the-american-dream-is-equal-access-to-education-as/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [However imperfectly, subsidies for the poor do actually reduce hunger, ease suffering and create opportunity, while subsidies for the rich result in more private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/however-imperfectly-subsidies-for-the-poor-do-actually-reduce-hunger/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [One of the aims of higher education is to broaden perspectives, and what better way than by a home stay in a really different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/one-of-the-aims-of-higher-education-is-to-broaden-perspectives-and/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [I suspect unconscious bias has been far more of a factor for President Obama than overt racism and will also be a challenge for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-suspect-unconscious-bias-has-been-far-more-of-a-factor-for/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Utah may well be the most cosmopolitan state in America. Vast numbers of young Mormons - increasingly women as well as men - spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/utah-may-well-be-the-most-cosmopolitan-state-in-america-vast-numbers/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Most of the time in the 21st century, we dominate our surroundings: We tweak the thermostat, and the temperature falls one degree. We push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/most-of-the-time-in-the-21st-century-we-dominate-our-surroundings-we/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [My take is that the optimal approach to food, for health and ethical reasons, may be vegetarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/my-take-is-that-the-optimal-approach-to-food-for-health-and-ethical/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Our world is enriched when coders and marketers dazzle us with smartphones and tablets, but, by themselves, they are just slabs. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/our-world-is-enriched-when-coders-and-marketers-dazzle-us-with/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [One of the most crucial kinds of intervention is in advocacy. We can think about charities in the context of delivering services, and indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/one-of-the-most-crucial-kinds-of-intervention-is-in-advocacy-we-can/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [There are very few things I've done just twice in my life, 40 years apart, and one is to backpack on the Pacific Crest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/there-are-very-few-things-i-ve-done-just-twice-in-my-life-40-years/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [We journalists are a bit like vultures, feasting on war, scandal and disaster. Turn on the news, and you see Syrian refugees, Volkswagen corruption,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/we-journalists-are-a-bit-like-vultures-feasting-on-war-scandal-and/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when Americans realized that their brothers, cousins, daughters were gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/gays-and-lesbians-began-to-gain-civil-rights-when-americans-realized/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Girls' education is no silver bullet. Iran and Saudi Arabia have both educated girls but refused to empower them, so both remain mired in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/girls-education-is-no-silver-bullet-iran-and-saudi-arabia-have-both/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) [Explore all 98 Nicholas Kristof quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every high school and college graduate in America should, I think, have some familiarity with statistics, economics and a foreign language such as Spanish. Religion may not be as indispensable, but the humanities should be a part of our repertory. 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