--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anyone thinks they're going to get…" description: "\"If anyone thinks they're going to get anything out of the Reagan administration for any particular group, they're wrong! You have to all combine and fi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/bayard-rustin-13318_administration_if-anyone-thinks-they-re-going-to-get-an_3131075.jpg" --- # If anyone thinks they're going to get anything out of the… ![“If anyone thinks they're going to get anything out of the Reagan administration for any particular group, they're wrong! You have to all combine and fight a head-on battle - in the name of justice and equality - and even that's going to be difficult. But if we let ourselves get separated so that…” quote by Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/bayard-rustin-13318_administration_if-anyone-thinks-they-re-going-to-get-an_3131075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/bayard-rustin-13318_administration_if-anyone-thinks-they-re-going-to-get-an_3131075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/512/bayard-rustin-13318_administration_if-anyone-thinks-they-re-going-to-get-an_3131075.jpg) > “If anyone thinks they're going to get anything out of the Reagan administration for any particular group, they're wrong! You have to all combine and fight a head-on battle - in the name of justice and equality - and even that's going to be difficult. But if we let ourselves get separated so that we're working for gays or school children or the aged, we're in trouble.” [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collective action is essential; dividing groups weakens the fight for justice and equality. **In simple terms:** Unity is stronger than division. Key Takeaway Build broad coalitions. Themes justice equality collective action political strategy Mood determined urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - activist meetings - policy advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts intersectionality solidarity social movements Questions to Reflect On - How can diverse groups maintain unity while addressing specific needs? - What tactics keep coalitions effective? A Different Perspective Dividing groups can still be strategically useful in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Equality and justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality-and-justice/) [Equality Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality-going-4848993/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Going Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-difficult/) [Going Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-reagan-2084570/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice And Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-and-equality/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Reagan Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reagan-administration-617381/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Working Gays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-gays-5539062/) ## Related quotes > [Like most Americans, I live in the line of fire of a shooting match that is going on over Reagan's legacy. It's between shrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/like-most-americans-i-live-in-the-line-of-fire-of-a-shooting-match/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [With patient and firm determination, I am going to press on for jobs. I'm going to press on for equality. I'm going to press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/with-patient-and-firm-determination-i-am-going-to-press-on-for-jobs-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I have talked about the deterioration of the atmosphere between Washington and Moscow. It was quite clear that in the year 1980, which at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-have-talked-about-the-deterioration-of-the-atmosphere-between/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [The economic success of the Reagan Administration was largely dependent upon the pyramiding of massive debt and the siphoning of capital from the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/the-economic-success-of-the-reagan-administration-was-largely/) [Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/) > [“As if the free military equipment, training, and cash grants were not enough, the Reagan administration provided law enforcement with yet another financial incentive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/as-if-the-free-military-equipment-training-and-cash-grants-were-not/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [At the same time, the Reagan Administration assured that the main elements of policymaking were in the hands of competent loyalists, thus assuring a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-v-allen/at-the-same-time-the-reagan-administration-assured-that-the-main/) [Richard V. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-v-allen/) > [Remember that sign they hung up in an EPA office during the Reagan administration, "No good deed goes unpunished"? Under George Bush, no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-helvarg/remember-that-sign-they-hung-up-in-an-epa-office-during-the-reagan/) [David Helvarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-helvarg/) > [The Reagan Administration, generally regarded as having conducted the most successful Transition of modern times, had managed during the election campaign to build bridges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-v-allen/the-reagan-administration-generally-regarded-as-having-conducted-the/) [Richard V. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-v-allen/) > [I'm not a representative of the military establishment. I came in with the Reagan Administration in 1981 as a presidential appointee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ikle/i-m-not-a-representative-of-the-military-establishment-i-came-in-with/) [Fred Ikle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ikle/) > [ I remember the first few months of the \[Ronald\] Reagan administration when all sorts of things happened too fast. We cannot allow that to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/i-remember-the-first-few-months-of-the-ronald-reagan-administration/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [ The \[Ronald\] Reagan administration told the business world that they were not going to enforce the labor laws. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-ronald-reagan-administration-told-the-business-world-that-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“The formulation of policy toward China, as with most issues confronting the Reagan administration, became a contest between conservative ideologues ("let Reagan be Reagan")…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-i-cohen/the-formulation-of-policy-toward-china-as-with-most-issues/) [Warren I. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-i-cohen/) > [ In some instances even certain social services that normally were supplied, or pre-empted by the state. Take the United States, the \[Ronald\] Reagan administration… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/in-some-instances-even-certain-social-services-that-normally-were/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [We all know Reagan's legacy, from the Iran-Contra affair to the funding of the Nicaraguan military in which over 200,000 people died. The groundwork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/we-all-know-reagan-s-legacy-from-the-iran-contra-affair-to-the/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [There's also some element of coming of age during the Reagan administration, which everybody has painted as some glorious time in America, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/there-s-also-some-element-of-coming-of-age-during-the-reagan/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) ## More by Bayard Rustin > [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/) > [When you're wrong, you're wrong. But when you're right, you're wrong anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/when-you-re-wrong-you-re-wrong-but-when-you-re-right-you-re-wrong/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Every indifference to prejudice is suicide because, if I don’t fight all bigotry, bigotry itself will be strengthened and, sooner or later, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/every-indifference-to-prejudice-is-suicide-because-if-i-don-t-fight/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [I am an opponent of war and of war preparations and an opponent of universal military training and conscription; but entirely apart from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/i-am-an-opponent-of-war-and-of-war-preparations-and-an-opponent-of/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Martin Luther King, with whom I worked very closely, became very distressed when a number of the ministers working for him wanted him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/martin-luther-king-with-whom-i-worked-very-closely-became-very/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/if-we-desire-a-society-of-peace-then-we-cannot-achieve-such-a-society/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [The real radical is that person who has a vision of equality and is willing to do those things that will bring reality closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/the-real-radical-is-that-person-who-has-a-vision-of-equality-and-is/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [The only weapon we have is our bodies, and we need to tuck them in places so wheels don't turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/the-only-weapon-we-have-is-our-bodies-and-we-need-to-tuck-them-in/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Bigotrys birthplace is the sinister back room of the mind where plots and schemes are hatched for the persecution and oppression of other human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/bigotrys-birthplace-is-the-sinister-back-room-of-the-mind-where-plots/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [My activism did not spring from being black...The racial injustice that was present in this country during my youth was a challenge to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/my-activism-did-not-spring-from-being-black-the-racial-injustice-that/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [If we desire a society in which men are brothers, then we must act towards one another with brotherhood. If we can build such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/if-we-desire-a-society-in-which-men-are-brothers-then-we-must-act/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [We are all one - and if we don't know it, we will learn it the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/we-are-all-one-and-if-we-don-t-know-it-we-will-learn-it-the-hard-way/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [I believe there are certain types of movements which cannot be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/i-believe-there-are-certain-types-of-movements-which-cannot-be-married/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Looking back at his career, Mr. Rustin, a Quaker, once wrote: ‘The principal factors which influenced my life are 1) nonviolent tactics; 2) constitutional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/looking-back-at-his-career-mr-rustin-a-quaker-once-wrote-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/when-an-individual-is-protesting-society-s-refusal-to-acknowledge-his/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) [Explore all 51 Bayard Rustin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [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/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If anyone thinks they're going to get anything out of the Reagan administration for any particular group, they're wrong! You have to all combine and fight a head-on battle - in the name of justice and equality - and even that's going to be difficult. 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