--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never done anything else in my life…" description: "\"I've never done anything else in my life other than preach and be an activist. Way before I was known.\" — Al Sharpton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/al-sharpton-2091_activist_i-ve-never-done-anything-else-in-my-life_2335251.png" --- # I've never done anything else in my life other than preach… ![“I've never done anything else in my life other than preach and be an activist. Way before I was known.” quote by Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/al-sharpton-2091_activist_i-ve-never-done-anything-else-in-my-life_2335251.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/al-sharpton-2091_activist_i-ve-never-done-anything-else-in-my-life_2335251.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/al-sharpton-2091_activist_i-ve-never-done-anything-else-in-my-life_2335251.png) > “I've never done anything else in my life other than preach and be an activist. Way before I was known.” [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lifelong commitment to preaching and activism defines identity, preceding public recognition. **In simple terms:** Activism defines identity before fame. Key Takeaway Stay true to your mission. Themes activism identity purpose Mood passionate reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - political campaigns - media appearances - nonprofit work Key Concepts social justice public speaking personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How does activism shape your self‑image? - What boundaries protect you? A Different Perspective Activism can lead to burnout without self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I will never do anything in my entire life except preach the Gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-will-never-do-anything-in-my-entire-life-except-preach-the-gospel/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [May your life preach more loudly than your lips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/may-your-life-preach-more-loudly-than-your-lips/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Every day I get better at knowing that it is not a choice to be an activist; rather, it is the only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/staceyann-chin/every-day-i-get-better-at-knowing-that-it-is-not-a-choice-to-be-an/) [Staceyann Chin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/staceyann-chin/) > [Now the way of life that I preach is a habit to be acquired gradually by long and steady repetition. It is the practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/now-the-way-of-life-that-i-preach-is-a-habit-to-be-acquired-gradually/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Raising children pushed me to walk the walk and practice life as I preach it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-cameron/raising-children-pushed-me-to-walk-the-walk-and-practice-life-as-i/) [Candace Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-cameron/) > [It is because the old have forgotten life that they preach wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-moeller/it-is-because-the-old-have-forgotten-life-that-they-preach-wisdom/) [Philip Moeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-moeller/) > [I knew from the age of four that I wanted to preach. I didn't even consider it strange that grown people were listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-knew-from-the-age-of-four-that-i-wanted-to-preach-i-didn-t-even/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I don't think Dr. King helped racial harmony, I think he helped racial justice. What I profess to do is help the oppressed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-don-t-think-dr-king-helped-racial-harmony-i-think-he-helped-racial/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I've been known to preach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-ve-been-known-to-preach/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [“What-ifs are a bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-rae-miller/what-ifs-are-a-bitch/) [Leah Rae Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-rae-miller/) > [The word of God is complete, and those who don't preach the word in its fullness are false teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/the-word-of-god-is-complete-and-those-who-don-t-preach-the-word-in/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [Film is the only language I speak, and I have been lucky to be involved in some great stories. You don't want to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-johnson/film-is-the-only-language-i-speak-and-i-have-been-lucky-to-be/) [Clark Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-johnson/) > [Preach it, I say preach it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/preach-it-i-say-preach-it/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Practice what you preach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soler/practice-what-you-preach/) Charles Soler > [There's always, I guess, a philosophy that if you come in, you want to change all the parts, you want to change everything over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/there-s-always-i-guess-a-philosophy-that-if-you-come-in-you-want-to/) [Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/) ## More by Al Sharpton > [We blacks had problems in the '60s and we solved them by marching. We've still got problems - let's march.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/we-blacks-had-problems-in-the-60s-and-we-solved-them-by-marching-we/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [When a mother or father is willing to pay smugglers and risk the lives of their own children by sending them on a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/when-a-mother-or-father-is-willing-to-pay-smugglers-and-risk-the/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [My message to everyone: the next time you hear about migrant children near the border, just picture them as your own. Then think what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/my-message-to-everyone-the-next-time-you-hear-about-migrant-children/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [What’s wrong with denouncing white interlopers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/what-s-wrong-with-denouncing-white-interlopers/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Bill Clinton strikes me as the kind of guy who goes wherever the polls lead him, rather than leading the polls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/bill-clinton-strikes-me-as-the-kind-of-guy-who-goes-wherever-the/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I feel that it is our moral obligation to stand and to be courageous with these families, and particularly Cindy, that have become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-feel-that-it-is-our-moral-obligation-to-stand-and-to-be-courageous/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Getting Democrats organized is like herding cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/getting-democrats-organized-is-like-herding-cats/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I'm very cautious and very concerned about what I have initially seen, but I also believe we've got to organize like we have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-m-very-cautious-and-very-concerned-about-what-i-have-initially-seen/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I do believe the Democratic party has moved far to the right. I do believe that the party has a bunch of elephants running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-do-believe-the-democratic-party-has-moved-far-to-the-right-i-do/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I need to hear something about how he's going to bring people together in the spirit, hopefully, of Martin Luther King Jr., and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-need-to-hear-something-about-how-he-s-going-to-bring-people/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [The Democratic Party hasn't whipped anybody into a frenzy. The assumption is that the people that are marching and protesting and standing up against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/the-democratic-party-hasn-t-whipped-anybody-into-a-frenzy-the/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [The resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder is met with both pride and disappointment by the Civil Rights community. We are proud that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/the-resignation-of-attorney-general-eric-holder-is-met-with-both/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [ It does not appear, nor is there any reason to believe that \[ Jeff Sessions\] will put policing reform front and center in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/it-does-not-appear-nor-is-there-any-reason-to-believe-that-jeff/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I can call a march, and thousands come out, and I happen to have access to the White House at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-can-call-a-march-and-thousands-come-out-and-i-happen-to-have-access/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I've learned how to measure what I say. Al Sharpton in 1986 was trying to be heard. I was a local guy and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-ve-learned-how-to-measure-what-i-say-al-sharpton-in-1986-was-trying/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) [Explore all 186 Al Sharpton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) ## More Activist quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Social media is not just another way to connect feminist and activist voices - it amplifies our messages as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/social-media-is-not-just-another-way-to-connect-feminist-and-activist/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I have never been an activist for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-have-never-been-an-activist-for-anything/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [I've been an activist in the LGBT community for a long time. I think nothing's changed, I'm just a little bit more focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-been-an-activist-in-the-lgbt-community-for-a-long-time-i-think/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I've been an activist since I was a teenager. I was always curious about what we would now call social justice. I remember just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-ve-been-an-activist-since-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-always-curious/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [You do what you know is good, because it's good, and then you have a certain peace of mind, saying, you've been an activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-do-what-you-know-is-good-because-it-s-good-and-then-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But Im an activist - thats just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/obviously-the-transgender-movement-has-not-progressed-in-the-way-that/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [“If you teach your children how to bully, or do nothing to stop them, teach them also how to die for their cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/if-you-teach-your-children-how-to-bully-or-do-nothing-to-stop-them/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) [Browse all 773 Activist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never done anything else in my life other than preach and be an activist. 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