Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Small acts of courage by individuals combine to create a powerful force for change in history.
- In plain terms
- Everyone can make a small difference that adds up to big historical change.
- What can you take from it?
- Your small acts of courage contribute to sweeping away oppression.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What small act can you do today?
- How do your actions ripple out to others?
Another view
Individual actions can feel insignificant against large systemic forces.
More from Robert F. Kennedy
Fear not the path of truth, for the lack of people walking on it.
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Permalink to quote #35 Each generation makes its own accounting to its children.
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