--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is…" description: "\"If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is, bigotry is thereby strengthened. And to the degree that it is strengthened, it will, thereby, have the power ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bayard-rustin-13318_bigotry_if-i-do-not-fight-bigotry-wherever-it-is_2875530.jpg" --- # If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is, bigotry is… ![“If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is, bigotry is thereby strengthened. And to the degree that it is strengthened, it will, thereby, have the power to turn on me.” quote by Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bayard-rustin-13318_bigotry_if-i-do-not-fight-bigotry-wherever-it-is_2875530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bayard-rustin-13318_bigotry_if-i-do-not-fight-bigotry-wherever-it-is_2875530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/bayard-rustin-13318_bigotry_if-i-do-not-fight-bigotry-wherever-it-is_2875530.jpg) > “If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is, bigotry is thereby strengthened. And to the degree that it is strengthened, it will, thereby, have the power to turn on me.” [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. Failing to oppose bigotry strengthens it, eventually turning its power back onto the oppressor. **In simple terms:** Ignoring bigotry makes it stronger and dangerous. Key Takeaway Act against prejudice early. Themes social justice bigotry responsibility Mood urgent ethical Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - activism - education - policy - community building Key Concepts opposition power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely challenge prejudice? - What are effective ways to combat bigotry? A Different Perspective Some may fear confronting bigotry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Bigotry Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry-bigotry-2671302/) [Bigotry Strengthened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry-strengthened-2671301/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Fight Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-bigotry-2671300/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Strengthened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengthened/) [Strengthened Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengthened-power-3956701/) [Turn on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-on/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [ “O\]ne has to fight for justice for all. If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is, bigotry is thereby strengthened. And to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-weise/o-ne-has-to-fight-for-justice-for-all-if-i-do-not-fight-bigotry/) [Don Weise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-weise/) > [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/) > [“May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy. Colossians 1:11”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/may-you-be-strengthened-with-all-power-according-to-his-glorious/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [In order for the inner man to be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit, the children of God must discharge their responsibility. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/in-order-for-the-inner-man-to-be-strengthened-with-power-through-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [Ironically, there is a history of black/Irish communion here in the states; Irish and African American brothers and sisters have often found common cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/ironically-there-is-a-history-of-black-irish-communion-here-in-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I said I reject any form of bigotry, bigotry of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-said-i-reject-any-form-of-bigotry-bigotry-of-all-kinds/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [It is nonsense for the Government to allow any loopholes for religious homophobia. Bigotry is bigotry whether it's dressed up in the language of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-fraser/it-is-nonsense-for-the-government-to-allow-any-loopholes-for/) [Giles Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-fraser/) > [America's only respectable form of bigotry is bigotry against religious people. And the only reason for hatred of religion is that it forces us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/america-s-only-respectable-form-of-bigotry-is-bigotry-against/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [Why do we cling to bigotry? Because bigotry, plainly, is convenient. 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And the novel, it very much strengthened my faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/well-the-research-into-it-affected-me-and-the-novel-it-very-much/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [I'd like to think that we've certainly strengthened the position of some of our government businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gutwein/i-d-like-to-think-that-we-ve-certainly-strengthened-the-position-of/) [Peter Gutwein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gutwein/) > [I valued the biblical foundation I got at Biola. I was able to take classes that strengthened my faith and helped me to better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thune/i-valued-the-biblical-foundation-i-got-at-biola-i-was-able-to-take/) [John Thune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thune/) > [Belief in ourself is like a muscle - it is strengthened by constant and careful use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-devrye/belief-in-ourself-is-like-a-muscle-it-is-strengthened-by-constant-and/) [Catherine DeVrye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-devrye/) > [Of course, learning is strengthened and solidified when it occurs in a safe, secure and normal environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bertrand-aristide/of-course-learning-is-strengthened-and-solidified-when-it-occurs-in-a/) [Jean-Bertrand Aristide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bertrand-aristide/) ## 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 Bigotry quotes > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bigoted people are just scholars who lack any sort of legitimate credentials to answer why they're bigoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/bigoted-people-are-just-scholars-who-lack-any-sort-of-legitimate/) [Doctavius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doctavius/) > [Sadly, we can't eliminate bigotry. But that doesn't mean we have to tolerate it, much less give it a platform on which to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/sadly-we-can-t-eliminate-bigotry-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Oh Beautiful For A Land That's Free Where All Can Congregate Together Live With No Degree Of Bigotry And Hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bee/oh-beautiful-for-a-land-that-s-free-where-all-can-congregate-together/) [Kathy Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bee/) > [“That’s the problem with indoctrination—the whole point of the First Order’s kind of education is to stop someone from thinking and instead kick their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-indoctrination-the-whole-point-of-the-first/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-engel/too-small-is-our-world-to-allow-discrimination-bigotry-and/) [Eliot Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-engel/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, especially considering its emphases on timeless and critical topics like discrimination and prejudice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lovejoy/this-book-would-be-a-great-addition-to-a-classroom-library-especially/) [Sharon Lovejoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lovejoy/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Fear and Bigotry are bred fom isolation and ignorance. -Shekinah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-and-bigotry-are-bred-fom-isolation-and-ignorance-shekinah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 661 Bigotry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I do not fight bigotry wherever it is, bigotry is thereby strengthened. 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