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The name of the game is to talk to people. If you don't talk to people, you can't get started... You knock on twenty doors or so, and twenty guys tell you to go to hell, or that they haven't got time. But maybe at the fortieth or sixtieth house you find the one guy who is all you need. You're not going to organize everything; you're just going to get it started.

Cesar Chavez#105

ActivismCommunityLeadershipOrganizingPerseveranceCommunication

About this quote

What does it mean?
Organizing begins with talking to many people; persistence finds the one who matters.
In plain terms
Talk to many people to organize; keep trying until you find allies.
What can you take from it?
Persistence in communication starts organizing movements.

Where it applies

  • campaigning
  • leadership
  • networking

Putting it to work

  • door knocking
  • community meetings
  • outreach

Questions to consider

  • How many attempts does it take to build trust?
  • Why is conversation key to organizing?

Another view

Not everyone responds to outreach positively.

More from Cesar Chavez

  1. The life of the union depends upon more people getting to share the limelight, because with the limelight also comes responsibility and with the responsibility…

    Permalink to quote #104
  2. The non-violent technique does not depend for its success on the goodwill of the oppressor, but rather on the unfailing assistance of God.

    Permalink to quote #106
  3. The first principle of non-violent action is that of non-cooperation with everything humiliating.

    Permalink to quote #103

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