--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You might say those who can't repay their…" description: "\"You might say those who can't repay their student debts shouldn't have borrowed in the first place. But they had no way of knowing just how bad the job..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png" --- # You might say those who can't repay their student debts… ![“You might say those who can't repay their student debts shouldn't have borrowed in the first place. But they had no way of knowing just how bad the jobs market would become.” quote by Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png) > “You might say those who can't repay their student debts shouldn't have borrowed in the first place. But they had no way of knowing just how bad the jobs market would become.” [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Student debt burdens are often unfairly blamed on borrowers, ignoring systemic job market failures. **In simple terms:** Debt isn’t just personal fault. Key Takeaway Advocate for systemic economic reforms. Themes debt economics justice Mood urgent analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - student loan counseling - policy advocacy - career planning - financial education Key Concepts public policy labor economics Questions to Reflect On - What policies could protect borrowers? - How can individuals mitigate debt risk? A Different Perspective Reforms may be politically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-jobs/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Borrowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowed/) [Debts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts/) [Debts Shouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts-shouldn-3586579/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Repay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repay/) [Repay Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repay-student-3586580/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Shouldn Borrowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shouldn-borrowed-3586578/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) [Student Debts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-debts-891048/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [“The combination of students who do not complete college and private colleges that do not deliver degrees that help their graduates gain employment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temin/the-combination-of-students-who-do-not-complete-college-and-private/) [Peter Temin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temin/) > [One must have some sort of occupation nowadays. If I hadn't my debts I shouldn't have anything to think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-must-have-some-sort-of-occupation-nowadays-if-i-hadn-t-my-debts-i/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It was a recession when I graduated, but I was so unequipped to have a job anyway, I don't think it would have mattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/it-was-a-recession-when-i-graduated-but-i-was-so-unequipped-to-have-a/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [The workers who get hurt by corner-cutting often do not realize they are being wronged. Even when they do, they do not have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/the-workers-who-get-hurt-by-corner-cutting-often-do-not-realize-they/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [I was 27 when I uploaded my first YouTube video. I had a master's degree and was running a small business. I had had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/i-was-27-when-i-uploaded-my-first-youtube-video-i-had-a-master-s/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [There were a zillion bad jobs. That doesn't exist any more. I mean, I could wake up one afternoon with zero money and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/there-were-a-zillion-bad-jobs-that-doesn-t-exist-any-more-i-mean-i/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [It is not true that there is dignity in all work. Some jobs are definitely better than others… People who have good jobs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/it-is-not-true-that-there-is-dignity-in-all-work-some-jobs-are/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I had a lot of bad jobs but the one big internship I had is I interned for 'SNL' when I was 21 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-lot-of-bad-jobs-but-the-one-big-internship-i-had-is-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know in politics you are dealing in the realm of choices. You don't always have clear-cut decision between a thoroughly principled position and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-costello/you-know-in-politics-you-are-dealing-in-the-realm-of-choices-you-don/) [Peter Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-costello/) > [Referrals are very powerful. When I refer you, I give a little bit of my reputation away. If you do a good job, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-misner/referrals-are-very-powerful-when-i-refer-you-i-give-a-little-bit-of/) [Ivan Misner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-misner/) > [I've never had a terrible job. I've been a cook, waitress, bookseller, teacher, freelance writer. I know what the bad jobs are, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-ve-never-had-a-terrible-job-i-ve-been-a-cook-waitress-bookseller/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [We do an epically bad job of acknowledging one another's work and checking our sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/we-do-an-epically-bad-job-of-acknowledging-one-another-s-work-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [There's an enormous number of managers who have retired on the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-s-an-enormous-number-of-managers-who-have-retired-on-the-job/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Whenever I write lyrics, in the back of my mind I always see a guy driving to work, driving to a really bad job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/whenever-i-write-lyrics-in-the-back-of-my-mind-i-always-see-a-guy/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Nobody goes to work to do a bad job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/nobody-goes-to-work-to-do-a-bad-job/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## More by Robert Reich > [The Democratic Party is DEAD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-democratic-party-is-dead/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. Employers paid them enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/during-three-decades-from-1947-to-1977-the-nation-implemented-what/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [A leader is someone who steps back from the entire system and tries to build a more collaborative, more innovative system that will work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/a-leader-is-someone-who-steps-back-from-the-entire-system-and-tries/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [The faith that anyone could move from rags to riches - with enough guts and gumption, hard work and nose to the grindstone -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-faith-that-anyone-could-move-from-rags-to-riches-with-enough-guts/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [If you give up on politics, you're giving up on democracy. And if you give up on democracy, you're basically saying to the moneyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/if-you-give-up-on-politics-you-re-giving-up-on-democracy-and-if-you/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Given that ever-broadening array of options and alternatives, as consumers and investors, we are often bewildered. We need guidance. That's where today's brands come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/given-that-ever-broadening-array-of-options-and-alternatives-as/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [I knew Hillary Clinton from undergraduate days and was enormously impressed with her. She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Limits should be placed on how big big banks can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/limits-should-be-placed-on-how-big-big-banks-can-become/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Every organization, no matter who it is, just follow the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/every-organization-no-matter-who-it-is-just-follow-the-money/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Any bank that is too big to fail is too big. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/any-bank-that-is-too-big-to-fail-is-too-big-period/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Today, for good or ill, people are thinking about many social problems from the standpoint of their own kitchen tables. I think the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/today-for-good-or-ill-people-are-thinking-about-many-social-problems/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [There's sort of a chilling effect on non-profits and the media and a lot of other places because the establishment is so powerful. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/there-s-sort-of-a-chilling-effect-on-non-profits-and-the-media-and-a/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [We already have an annual wealth tax on homes, the major asset of the middle class. It's called the property tax. Why not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-already-have-an-annual-wealth-tax-on-homes-the-major-asset-of-the/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) [Explore all 255 Robert Reich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You might say those who can't repay their student debts shouldn't have borrowed in the first place. But they had no way of knowing just how bad the jobs market would become.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Reich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-their-student-debts-shouldn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-their-student-debts-shouldn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/robert-reich-1333_bad_you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-thei_399540.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You might say those who can't repay their student debts shouldn't have borrowed in the first place. But they…” — Robert Reich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Reich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You might say those who can't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-their-student-debts-shouldn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/you-might-say-those-who-can-t-repay-their-student-debts-shouldn-t/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```