“The Horatio Alger stories of "rags to riches" were true for a few men, but mostly a myth, and a useful myth for control.”

— Howard Zinn , book A People's History of the United States

Ch. 11 http://historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnbaron11.html
A People's History of the United States (1980)
Context: While some multimillionaires started in poverty, most did not. A study of the origins of 303 textile, railroad and steel executives of the 1870s showed that 90 percent came from middle- or upper-class families. The Horatio Alger stories of "rags to riches" were true for a few men, but mostly a myth, and a useful myth for control.

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Howard Zinn 69

author and historian 1922–2010

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