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Meaning
The quote says that people usually understand what is happening around them, and they often choose actions that help them right away. It suggests that self-interest is a strong and constant motive in human behavior. The wording also implies that this pattern is ordinary rather than unusual.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
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Historical Context
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
No source found on Wikiquote; the quote is listed as attributed.
Did You Know?
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About Ta-Nehisi Coates
American author, journalist, and activist
Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates is an American author, journalist, and activist. He became widely read while serving as a national correspondent at The Atlantic, where his reporting and essays focused on cultural, social, and political questions, especially those involving African Americans and white supremacy. His work is closely associated with progressive politics and with writing that examines race, power, and public life in the United States. He is known for addressing these subjects with clarity and force, and his name remains strongly linked to contemporary commentary on American society.
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Books by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Between the World and Me
2015
The Water Dancer
2019
The Beautiful Struggle
2009
We Were Eight Years in Power
2018