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It is a vicious cycle; ignorance breeds poverty and poverty breeds ignorance. There is only one cure for both, and that is to stop breeding these things. Stop bringing to birth children whose inheritance cannot be one of health or intelligence. Stop bringing into the world children whose parents cannot provide for them.

Margaret Sanger#31

Birth controlHealthPolicyPopulationSocial policyPovertyEducationIgnorance

About this quote

What does it mean?
Ignorance and poverty reinforce each other, and breaking the cycle requires preventing children from being born into conditions lacking health or education.
In plain terms
Poverty and ignorance feed each other; stop having kids who can’t get health or education.
What can you take from it?
Preventing births in deprived conditions can break the poverty‑ignorance loop.

Where it applies

  • family planning
  • public health policy
  • education reform

Putting it to work

  • promote access to contraception
  • provide prenatal education
  • support welfare programs

Questions to consider

  • How can societies reduce poverty without restricting reproduction?
  • What alternatives exist to break the poverty‑ignorance cycle?

Another view

It assumes that denying births is the primary solution, ignoring systemic change.

More from Margaret Sanger

  1. Anyone, no matter how ignorant, how diseased mentally or physically, how lacking in all knowledge of children, seemed to consider he or she had the right to be…

    Permalink to quote #30
  2. Mothers! Can you afford to have a large family? Do you want any more children? If not, why do you have them? Do not kill, do not take life, but prevent! Safe, …

    Permalink to quote #32
  3. Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggle…

    Permalink to quote #29

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