--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only time we create any kind of…" description: "\"The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and inspire and motivate them to vote.\" — Alexa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg" --- # The only time we create any kind of substantive change is… ![“The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and inspire and motivate them to vote.” quote by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg) > “The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and inspire and motivate them to vote.” [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Substantive change comes from mobilizing a disaffected electorate to vote, turning frustration into political power. **In simple terms:** Change requires engaging and motivating disaffected voters. Key Takeaway Mobilize and inspire voters. Themes politics activism civic engagement Mood determined hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - election campaigns - community meetings - online outreach - policy advocacy Key Concepts democratic participation social change grassroots organizing Questions to Reflect On - How can we sustain engagement after elections? - What policies best address voter disaffection? A Different Perspective May overlook structural barriers beyond voter motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Disaffected Electorate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaffected-electorate-5635483/) [Electorate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electorate/) [Electorate Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electorate-inspire-5635484/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Motivate Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivate-vote-5635485/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Substantive Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substantive-change-3254610/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When real substantive change happens it's the people who watch your show, they're the ones that make it happen. It's people whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/when-real-substantive-change-happens-it-s-the-people-who-watch-your/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to get someone elected, and you don't get involved in a mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-when-it-s-time-to-get-someone/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [People try to identify who is the most likely person to turn out, and what we did is that we changed who turns out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/people-try-to-identify-who-is-the-most-likely-person-to-turn-out-and/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [The moment is ripe for an experienced businessman to talk practical, prudent economics to the electorate - which is why Mitt Romney's political fortunes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-moment-is-ripe-for-an-experienced-businessman-to-talk-practical/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [The American creationist movement has entirely bypassed the scientific forum and has concentrated instead on political lobbying and on taking its case to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/the-american-creationist-movement-has-entirely-bypassed-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [In our democracy, political parties have to raise funds to campaign and put their policies to the electorate, and as a proud supporter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/in-our-democracy-political-parties-have-to-raise-funds-to-campaign/) [David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sainsbury-baron-sainsbury-of-turville/) > [“all the people have a right to vote, and no single man ever controls the destiny of any nation, either by divine right or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/all-the-people-have-a-right-to-vote-and-no-single-man-ever-controls/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [My own electorate, which I represented for 36 years as an anti-apartheid politician, had a considerable number of Jewish voters supporting me throughout my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-suzman/my-own-electorate-which-i-represented-for-36-years-as-an-anti/) [Helen Suzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-suzman/) > [I think FoxNews ratings are a reliable guide to the attitudes of the American electorate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-schonfeld/i-think-foxnews-ratings-are-a-reliable-guide-to-the-attitudes-of-the/) [Reese Schonfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-schonfeld/) > [If you have an informed electorate, it makes great choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/if-you-have-an-informed-electorate-it-makes-great-choices/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [One difficulty in making the Senate work the way it was intended is that America's electorate is increasingly divided into red and blue states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/one-difficulty-in-making-the-senate-work-the-way-it-was-intended-is/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [I think that is what the electorate is looking for - they are not looking for a pretty face to lead the country. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-seah/i-think-that-is-what-the-electorate-is-looking-for-they-are-not/) [Nicole Seah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-seah/) > [The exit polls suggest that after a relatively disappointing first term, Obama managed to reassemble almost all of his 2008 electorate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-exit-polls-suggest-that-after-a-relatively-disappointing-first/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [There may be a sense in the electorate, especially among independents that President Obama has overreached in some ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullilove/there-may-be-a-sense-in-the-electorate-especially-among-independents/) [Michael Fullilove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullilove/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) ## More by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez > [When people feel like they are being spoken directly to, I do feel like... they'll do things like turn out in an off-year, mid-year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/when-people-feel-like-they-are-being-spoken-directly-to-i-do-feel/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [I do think that sometimes, especially coming into this going straight from activism to being a candidate or to being a person who potentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-do-think-that-sometimes-especially-coming-into-this-going-straight/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [There's this false notion that you have to separate and choose between issues of class and issues of race. What people do when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/there-s-this-false-notion-that-you-have-to-separate-and-choose/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [I'm very hands-on about social media. That's my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-m-very-hands-on-about-social-media-that-s-my-voice/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [Not all Democrats are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/not-all-democrats-are-the-same/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [It's disingenuous to... pretend the sources of our money don't impact the policy we write - you just can't serve two masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/it-s-disingenuous-to-pretend-the-sources-of-our-money-don-t-impact/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [I felt like the only way to effectively run for office is if you had access to a lot of wealth, high social influence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-felt-like-the-only-way-to-effectively-run-for-office-is-if-you-had/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [I'm used to people kind of knowing me in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-m-used-to-people-kind-of-knowing-me-in-the-community/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [We absolutely do need to make sure that our borders are secure. But what we need to realize and remember is that ICE was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/we-absolutely-do-need-to-make-sure-that-our-borders-are-secure-but/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [To me, what socialism means is to guarantee a basic level of dignity. It's asserting the value of saying that the America we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/to-me-what-socialism-means-is-to-guarantee-a-basic-level-of-dignity/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-just-hope-that-more-people-will-ignore-the-fatalism-of-the-argument/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [Before ICE, we had Immigration and Naturalization Services, but it wasn't until about 1999 that we chose to criminalize immigration at all. And then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/before-ice-we-had-immigration-and-naturalization-services-but-it-wasn/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [What I see is that the Democratic Party takes working class communities for granted, they take people of color for granted, and they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/what-i-see-is-that-the-democratic-party-takes-working-class/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [It's really scary or it's easy to generate fear around an idea or around an -ism when you don't provide any substance to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/it-s-really-scary-or-it-s-easy-to-generate-fear-around-an-idea-or/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [I wasn't born to a wealthy or powerful family - mother from Puerto Rico, dad from the South Bronx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-wasn-t-born-to-a-wealthy-or-powerful-family-mother-from-puerto-rico/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) [Explore all 75 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and inspire and motivate them to vote.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-substantive-change-is-when-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-substantive-change-is-when-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-9043_change_the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-subs_715727.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and…” — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only time we create any...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-substantive-change-is-when-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-substantive-change-is-when-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```