Samuel Johnson Quotes

Whatever we do, whatever our backgrounds, we've all had some kind of advantage somewhere along the way. Some break that might have gone to someone else. Some edge or inside track we couldn't have counted on.

Some people can work their butts off and never get what they're aiming for while others can get it without any effort at all.

I'm not saying people shouldn't apply themselves and work hard. You do have to try to make your own luck. But I know people firsthand who worked incredibly hard, who were really smart, who never got into trouble, and still didn't get a break.

Don't get me wrong: I think that everyone should put forth an effort to do better, but let's face it, some of us are just plain luckier than others.

Everyone is born equally capable but lacks equal opportunity.

We can't accept that it's O.K. if only some kids get to go to college.

It's not a meritocracy until everyone starts with the same opportunities, is it?

I am a young, white, educated male. I got really, really lucky. And life isn't fair.

I'm aware of the fact that a lot of talented people out there will never get this chance.

Most people don't get a fair crack of the whip.

That's what liberalism is all about, is promoting incompetence on the basis it's fair, because people would be the best if they weren't discriminated against.

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.

Take me as an example. I happen to have a talent for allocating capital. But my ability to use that talent is completely dependent on the society I was born into. If I'd been born into a tribe of hunters, this talent of mine would be pretty worthless. I can't run very fast. I'm not particularly strong. I'd probably end up as some wild animal's dinner.

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

I don't want to take names, but there are some people who get everything served on a platter. This is a movie, this is your role, and you have to do it. Some people have to strive so hard to reach where they have and want to.

I think this country is genuinely a meritocracy.

The successful are those who have been given opportunities.

Equality of opportunity is meaningless for those who do not have the capabilities to take advantage of it.

I don't think the world works on merit.

No one deserves his greater natural capacity nor merits a more favorable starting place in society.

Where you are born should not dictate your potential as a human being.

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.

All a guy needed was a chance. Somebody was alway controlling who got a chance and who didn't.

Talent is equally distributed but opportunity is not.

To build a better world we need to replace the patchwork of lucky breaks and arbitrary advantages today that determine success--the fortunate birth dates and the happy accidents of history--with a society that provides opportunities for all.