--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's useful for activists just to be out…" description: "\"It's useful for activists just to be out there to keep you mindful and not get complacent, even if ultimately you think some of their criticism is misg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/barack-obama-17_activist_it-s-useful-for-activists-just-to-be-out_901037.jpg" --- # It's useful for activists just to be out there to keep you… ![“It's useful for activists just to be out there to keep you mindful and not get complacent, even if ultimately you think some of their criticism is misguided.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/barack-obama-17_activist_it-s-useful-for-activists-just-to-be-out_901037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/barack-obama-17_activist_it-s-useful-for-activists-just-to-be-out_901037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/barack-obama-17_activist_it-s-useful-for-activists-just-to-be-out_901037.jpg) > “It's useful for activists just to be out there to keep you mindful and not get complacent, even if ultimately you think some of their criticism is misguided.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that activists’ presence keeps society alert and prevents complacency, even if some of their critiques are imperfect. **In simple terms:** Activists help us stay vigilant, despite flaws. Key Takeaway Stay engaged, value constructive criticism. Themes activism vigilance self‑reflection Mood thoughtful encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community organizing - policy debate - personal growth Key Concepts social change critical discourse mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance support and critique of activists? - When should we challenge activist narratives? A Different Perspective Activism can sometimes cause division or fatigue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Activists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activists/) [Activists Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activists-just-494062/) [Complacent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacent/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Just Mindful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-mindful-975895/) [Mindful Complacent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindful-complacent-1241810/) [Misguided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misguided/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Useful Activists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-activists-1241809/) ## Related quotes > [If you spend a lot of time with activists, as I have, they're just ordinary people who instead of Netflix are getting together in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-lewis/if-you-spend-a-lot-of-time-with-activists-as-i-have-they-re-just/) [Avi Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-lewis/) > [Many activists just see what's wrong: they want to stand up to injustice and educate people about it. 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But having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-the-reason-why-i-am-always-interested-in-engaging-in-people-who/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I was reminded that it is my obligation not only as an elected official in a pluralistic society, but also as a Christian, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-reminded-that-it-is-my-obligation-not-only-as-an-elected/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [O.K., helplessness is repugnant to me, as a father, as a piece of protoplasm. My parents were activists. I don't believe you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-brickman/o-k-helplessness-is-repugnant-to-me-as-a-father-as-a-piece-of/) [Marshall Brickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-brickman/) > [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/) > [Activists take the risks, while advocates are professional tinkerers with the system. What's necessary is for those who are advocates to support those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/activists-take-the-risks-while-advocates-are-professional-tinkerers/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [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/) > [My parents were civil rights activists, and my mother was active in the feminist movement. Issues concerning marginalized people and especially women of color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-holmes/my-parents-were-civil-rights-activists-and-my-mother-was-active-in/) [Anna Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-holmes/) > [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/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Activism quotes > [“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. 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