Upon presenting a Duke of Edinburgh Award to a student, when informed that the young man was going to help out in Romania for six months, he asked if the student was going to help the Romanian orphans; upon being informed he was not, it was claimed the 85-year-old duke added: 'Ah good, there's so many over there you feel they breed them just to put in orphanages.'[7]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The Duke of Edinburgh allegedly remarked that many Romanian orphans are bred for orphanages, reflecting a cynical view of aid and population.
- In plain terms
- He suggested Romanian orphans are produced for orphanages.
- What can you take from it?
- Critically assess the motives behind charitable work.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What responsibilities do donors have?
- How can aid avoid exploitation?
Another view
The quote may be misattributed or taken out of context.
More from Duke of Edinburgh Philip
At the height of the recession in 1981 he said: 'Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed.'[1]
Permalink to quote #23 At the University of Salford, he told a 13-year-old aspiring astronaut: 'You could do with losing a bit of weight.'[8]
Permalink to quote #25 'Aren't most of you descended from pirates?' (in 1994, to an islander in the Cayman Islands)[1]
Permalink to quote #22
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