“I have the goal of getting together 30 or 40 poor kids and bringing them to live with me.”
- May 20, 1935 – May 13, 2025
- Uruguayan
- Politician, Former President of Uruguay, Former Guerrilla Fighter, Advocate for Simple Living
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Quote
“I have the goal of getting together 30 or 40 poor kids and bringing them to live with me.”
Explanation
In this quote, José Mujica expresses a deeply personal and compassionate aspiration, one that extends far beyond symbolic charity or political rhetoric. His desire to “bring [poor children] to live with me” reflects a radical commitment to solidarity, breaking down the barriers between public responsibility and personal action. It is not just about aiding the poor—it is about sharing life with them directly, embodying the values of equality and care in the most intimate way.
This goal also reflects Mujica’s consistent belief that real change begins with human connection and ethical example, not just policy. His words challenge the traditional image of leadership as distant or hierarchical. Instead, he envisions leadership as service, grounded in closeness to the most vulnerable. This ambition echoes the principles that guided his presidency: humility, social justice, and a rejection of privilege.
In today’s world, where many leaders maintain a symbolic concern for poverty while remaining detached from it, Mujica’s quote serves as a powerful reminder that compassion requires proximity, and that acts of love and justice are most meaningful when they disrupt comfort and demand personal investment. It is a vision of leadership that is both deeply human and profoundly transformative.
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