Common Quote by Randall Jarrell
“Is an institution always a man's shadow shortened in the sun, the lowest common denominator of everybody in it?”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Shadow of an Institution” by Randall Jarrell, 1955
Institutions often reflect the dominant biases of their creators, limiting diversity and reinforcing power structures.
In simple terms: Institutions mirror their leaders’ biases.
Key Takeaway
Question and broaden institutional perspectives.
Themes
power
bias
institutional critique
social justice
representation
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- diversity training
- leadership selection
- community advocacy
Key Concepts
critical theory
structural inequality
identity politics
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- Who benefits from the status quo?
- How can marginalized voices reshape institutions?
A Different Perspective
Change can be resisted by entrenched interests.
![“Early in his life Mr. [Ezra] Pound met with strong, continued, and unintelligent opposition. If people keep opposing you when you are right, you think them fools; and after a time, right or wrong, you think them fools simply because they oppose you. Similarly, you write true things or good things…” quote by Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a7/randall-jarrell-3811_ends_early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with_359433.jpg)
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