I don’t think the Gallup Poll technique is going to be very helpful in determining the goals of our educational system.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that using opinion polls, like the Gallup Poll, is not a good way to decide what the goals of our education system should be. The speaker believes that relying on poll results is not the best approach to determine the important objectives for schools and learning.

About Sargent Shriver

Sargent Shriver was a remarkable American diplomat, politician, and activist. He was the driving force behind the creation of the Peace Corps and founded several other impactful programs as part of the War on Poverty. Shriver also served as the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 1972 election.

More about the author

More quotes from Sargent Shriver

The roots of racism lie deep in man’s nature, wounded and bruised by original sin.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Do we talk about the dignity of work? Do we give our students any reason for believing it is worthwhile to sacrifice for their work because such sacrifices improve the psychological and mental health of the person who makes them?

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Being accused of enthusiasm is something I’ll never live down.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

In the Peace Corps, the volunteer must be a fully developed, mature person. He must not join to run abroad or escape problems.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I can remember at college, living on 30-cent meals.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

He who knows all things and believes nothing is damned.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Jews have suffered persecution from misguided Christians who tortured the Jews for their part in killing Christ. These Christians forgot that Christ died because of the sins of all men.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

One of the things Mr. Kennedy taught me was that in laying out a new project, you shouldn’t try to cope with every little problem.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Does politics have to be injected into everything?

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Christian virtues unite men. Racism separates them.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

As far as I was concerned, the Depression was an ill wind that blew some good. If it hadn’t occurred, my parents would have given me my college education. As it was, I had to scrabble for it.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

We must treat the disease of racism. This means we must understand the disease.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Do the job first. Worry about the clearance later.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Racism cannot be cured solely by attacking some of the results it produces, like discrimination in housing or in education.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

The Peace Corps is guilty of enthusiasm and a crusading spirit. But we’re not apologetic about it.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Respect for another man’s opinion is worthy. It is the realization that any opinion is valuable, for it is the sign of a rational being.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

If a young person has any idealism at all, it’s strongest about the time he finishes college.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

A line has to be drawn somewhere between what is essential and what is peripheral.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Just to travel is rather boring, but to travel with a purpose is educational and exciting.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

When Roosevelt came along, I approved of his program, generally. I figured an economic system should work for people, not vice versa.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Working in an underdeveloped land for two or three years, the volunteer will often find that his work is routine and full of frustration.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Joe Kennedy isn’t in the habit of having incompetents around. I wouldn’t have lasted three months if I didn’t have some ability.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

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

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I don’t have to run the Peace Corps. I could live without seeing my picture in the newspapers and without being interviewed.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I don’t think the Gallup Poll technique is going to be very helpful in determining the goals of our educational system.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

It is precisely our job as Catholics to speak the truth as plainly and precisely as we can.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Any idealist who tries to join the Peace Corps must realize he is not going to change the world overnight.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I want to warn anyone who sees the Peace Corps as an alternative to the draft that life may well be easier at Fort Dix or at apost in Germany than it will be with us.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I never ride just to ride. I ride to catch a fox. I play baseball to make the team.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

The Peace Corps would give thousands of young Americans a chance to see at first hand the conditions in remote areas of the world.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

My parents had always preached the virtues of hard work. But hard work is one thing; economic struggle is another.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I do not think that the educational program of our schools should be determined by what the community thinks it needs.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

It’s the most rewarding thing to be a civil servant.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

There is an alternative to war. It has been with us forever.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

My parents were second cousins. That is enough to explain all of my peculiarities.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

Racists are irrational and illogical in their attempts to justify their prejudices.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

The only genuine elite is the elite of those men and women who gave their lives to justice and charity.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

The natural idealism of youth is an idealism, alas, for which we do not always provide as many outlets as we should.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

It wouldn’t kill me if I were never nominated or elected to anything.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

I hate goofballs.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)

It is well to be prepared for life as it is, but it is better to be prepared to make life better than it is.

Sargent Shriver

American diplomat, politician and activist (1915-2011)