P. J. O'Rourke Quotes

I think this country is genuinely a meritocracy.

Even in its third century, America is still the most meritocratic nation in the world.

Our country has become the land of opportunity to those born without inheritance.

As Americans, I think we really believe that with the meritocracy that exists in our country, the equality of opportunity is so important to the foundation of our culture and our society.

Obama is the splendid fruit of a meritocracy.

A meritocracy is a system in which the people who are the luckiest in their health and genetic endowment; luckiest in terms of family support, encouragement and, probably, income; luckiest in their educational and career opportunities; and luckiest in so many other ways difficult to enumerate - these are the folks who reap the largest rewards.

I have no respect for the passion of equality, which seems to me merely idealizing envy - I don't disparage envy, but I don't accept it as legitimately my master.

I don't believe that the American dream should be reserved for those who are born into the elite or somehow have been given an advantage over others. My growing-up experience is probably the most important thing that guides my priorities and my work today.

In a country where there is no privileged class, genius and industry may attain the highest honors.

A meritocracy increases inequality --- by its very nature, it has to.

I think the debate around nepotism is futile because I am an outsider and I know that there is no compensation of talent.

If there is a national, secular religion in the United States, it is the belief that America is the Land of Opportunity, that we are a meritocracy, that any kid, no matter who they are, or where they come from, can work hard and move up in the world: that their effort matters.

The status quo is never happy when things become a meritocracy.

If your only opportunity is to be equal then it is not opportunity.

The thing about frontiers, it allows the individuals who are best, whether they're men or women or minorities or whatever, to step to the top. So in traditional societies, old world societies, in the United Kingdom if you would; if you were born into the right stratus, the right class, you had the ability to succeed.

Fairness is not the end result, it's the opportunity. And everybody in America today has the opportunity to get ahead.

Outside of the family, education is the greatest determinant of social mobility.

America thinks of itself as a meritocracy, so people have more respect for success and more contempt for failure.

Now, as a nation, we don't promise equal outcomes, but we were founded on the idea everybody should have an equal opportunity to succeed. No matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, you can make it. That's an essential promise of America. Where you start should not determine where you end up.

Mr. Lincoln's elevation shows that in America every station in life may be honorable; that there is no barrier against the humblest; but that merit, wherever it exists, has the opportunity to be known.

Are we a nation of guarantees or are we a nation of opportunities to achieve the American dream?

If education does not create a need for the best in life, then we are stuck in an undemocratic, rigid caste society.

There is something inherent in our democracy that tends to want to level. America is a little uncomfortable in the presence of someone who is distinctly superior in whatever way.

I don't think anybody can claim success at any part of our lives, private or professional, if there are others that don't enjoy the same opportunities.

My feeling is, having lived in different classes, that people want equality of opportunity... that's the thing that makes me despair: the idea that people aren't given equality of opportunity.