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I know very few who are willing to die for their convictions. I wouldn't be hit on the head with a billy club or have mace squirted in my face. When I was younger and a radical at American University maybe: as a matter of fact, I was at the march on the Pentagon just last year, right in the front taking pictures, just being there to find out what was happening, and I was knocked down and stepped on. I don't want to do that again. It didn't accomplish anything. They lied about everything that happened. Everything in the newspapers were just lies.

Cass Elliot#18

ActivismConvictionMediaProtestRisk

About this quote

What does it mean?
Few are willing to die for convictions. Activism often involves physical risk with little tangible result due to media distortion.
In plain terms
I don't want to get hurt for my beliefs because it doesn't seem to accomplish anything.
What can you take from it?
Physical protest may carry high risks with uncertain outcomes.

Where it applies

  • political protest
  • social movements

Putting it to work

  • assess risks before protesting
  • focus on sustainable activism

Questions to consider

  • When is physical risk worth taking for a cause?
  • How do you measure the impact of protest?

Another view

Disengaging from direct action might limit the effectiveness of social change efforts.

More from Cass Elliot

  1. I think the most successful way to overthrow any government is through infiltration. It's been proven for years. The dream, of course, is that there is going t…

    Permalink to quote #17
  2. Let's take the people who have latent thoughts about maybe the United States isn't always right. They hear a song like 'Give a Damn' and maybe it'll awaken the…

    Permalink to quote #19
  3. My philosophy is I'm gonna fight as hard as I can to keep all the bad things from happening. But if they are gonna happen and I happen to be in the city where …

    Permalink to quote #16

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