--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After acknowledging that most law…" description: "\"After acknowledging that most law enforcement personnel are fair-minded and do a difficult job, it only takes one exception to create a terrible traged..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png" --- # After acknowledging that most law enforcement personnel… ![“After acknowledging that most law enforcement personnel are fair-minded and do a difficult job, it only takes one exception to create a terrible tragedy.” quote by Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png) > “After acknowledging that most law enforcement personnel are fair-minded and do a difficult job, it only takes one exception to create a terrible tragedy.” [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging general fairness of police, a single bad act can cause massive tragedy **In simple terms:** Fair police, one bad act causes tragedy Key Takeaway Ensure accountability and vigilance Themes justice accountability tragedy Mood concerned serious Type cautionary reflective When to use this quote - law enforcement oversight - community relations - policy reform Key Concepts systems thinking risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions prevent isolated failures from escalating? - What safeguards protect against single-point catastrophes? A Different Perspective Even with generally good people, systemic failures can occur ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-job/) [Enforcement Personnel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enforcement-personnel-1289742/) [Fair Minded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-minded-532782/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Terrible tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [We just sent our condolences to the President of the United States and the American people on what is a terrible, terrible tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/we-just-sent-our-condolences-to-the-president-of-the-united-states/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) > [Some families can experience terrible tragedy and deal with it, and others not. I find those things fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sissy-spacek/some-families-can-experience-terrible-tragedy-and-deal-with-it-and/) [Sissy Spacek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sissy-spacek/) > [Clearly, the oil spill in the Gulf is a terrible tragedy; we lost 11 lives on the rig, and their families are suffering, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/clearly-the-oil-spill-in-the-gulf-is-a-terrible-tragedy-we-lost-11/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [My son Andrew was an extraordinary young man, loved and admired by all who knew him. His accidental death is a terrible tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-aga-khan/my-son-andrew-was-an-extraordinary-young-man-loved-and-admired-by-all/) [Yasmin Aga Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-aga-khan/) > [I'm sure there are people in Hollywood, whose main drive in film is to make money, who will feel that any use of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-m-sure-there-are-people-in-hollywood-whose-main-drive-in-film-is-to/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [This terrible tragedy… the entire international community should unite in the struggle against terrorism this is a blatant challenge to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/this-terrible-tragedy-the-entire-international-community-should-unite/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I learned you could suffer a terrible tragedy and still be happy again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/i-learned-you-could-suffer-a-terrible-tragedy-and-still-be-happy-again/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [What terrible tragedies realism inflicts on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/what-terrible-tragedies-realism-inflicts-on-people/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [It's all a terrible tragedy. 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Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-ferris/) > [September 11, 2001, was a terrible tragedy by any measure, but it was not a historical turning point. It did not herald a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/september-11-2001-was-a-terrible-tragedy-by-any-measure-but-it-was/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [ We \[with Shindzo Abe\] should understand that the results of that terrible tragedy of the 20th century, namely World War II, are enshrined in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-with-shindzo-abe-should-understand-that-the-results-of-that/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [If you think of all the publicity about the terrible tragedy of Virginia Tech, we have a Virginia Tech in this country every day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/if-you-think-of-all-the-publicity-about-the-terrible-tragedy-of/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [This is really hard to do but I'd like to change the tone now and briefly mention today's terrible tragedy in France. Twelve people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/this-is-really-hard-to-do-but-i-d-like-to-change-the-tone-now-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) ## More by Bernice King > [Nonviolence will empower and equip us to bring generations to the table and fuse our knowledge, gifts, and zeal together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/nonviolence-will-empower-and-equip-us-to-bring-generations-to-the/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Before she was a King, my mother was a peace advocate, a courageous leader, and an accomplished artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/before-she-was-a-king-my-mother-was-a-peace-advocate-a-courageous/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Before my mother was a King, she climbed trees and wrestled with boys. And won. Even as a child, Coretta Scott demonstrated that her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/before-my-mother-was-a-king-she-climbed-trees-and-wrestled-with-boys/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [At Grinnell College, for the first time in my life, I was in an all-white setting. It was a shocking experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/at-grinnell-college-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-was-in-an-all/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Continue to speak out against all forms of injustice to yourselves and others, and you will set a mighty example for your children and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/continue-to-speak-out-against-all-forms-of-injustice-to-yourselves/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [We cannot afford to regard as normal the presence of injustice, inhumanity, and violence, including their verbal and cyber manifestations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/we-cannot-afford-to-regard-as-normal-the-presence-of-injustice/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Something big is going on. I'm talking about a society that refuses to allow injustice just to persist without making our voices heard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/something-big-is-going-on-i-m-talking-about-a-society-that-refuses-to/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [With continued prayer and an equally-determined commitment to action for needed anti-violence reforms, let us resolve to work toward a new era in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/with-continued-prayer-and-an-equally-determined-commitment-to-action/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Seek out your brothers and sisters of other cultures and join together in building alliances to put an end to all forms of racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/seek-out-your-brothers-and-sisters-of-other-cultures-and-join/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Every time I go to these racial forums, it is people who are alike, or it is progressives and liberals. 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The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [United Way works to create a safe and healthy home for everyone in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/united-way-works-to-create-a-safe-and-healthy-home-for-everyone-in/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“If I can create something unique in the world, so can you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scifurz/if-i-can-create-something-unique-in-the-world-so-can-you/) [SciFurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scifurz/) > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [For a long time at Blackburn and at Fulham last season, I was playing on the right wing. I've never seen myself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cairney/for-a-long-time-at-blackburn-and-at-fulham-last-season-i-was-playing/) [Tom Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cairney/) > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) [Browse all 5,654 Create quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After acknowledging that most law enforcement personnel are fair-minded and do a difficult job, it only takes one exception to create a terrible tragedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bernice King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforcement-personnel-are-fair/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Create" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforcement-personnel-are-fair/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/bernice-king-7450_create_after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforc_906256.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After acknowledging that most law enforcement personnel are fair-minded and do a difficult job, it only…” — Bernice King", "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": "Bernice King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After acknowledging that most law enforcement...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforcement-personnel-are-fair/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/after-acknowledging-that-most-law-enforcement-personnel-are-fair/#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 } } ] } ```