--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We also have to engage - and I think this…" description: "\"We also have to engage - and I think this is important - in national politics because there is no way to address questions of this scale in the short t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg" --- # We also have to engage - and I think this is important… ![“We also have to engage - and I think this is important - in national politics because there is no way to address questions of this scale in the short time that we have to address them without engaging in real political change.” quote by Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg) > “We also have to engage - and I think this is important - in national politics because there is no way to address questions of this scale in the short time that we have to address them without engaging in real political change.” [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engaging in national politics is essential for tackling large‑scale problems that cannot be solved quickly without systemic change **In simple terms:** Political involvement is needed for big issues Key Takeaway Participate in political processes for systemic change Themes activism politics environmentalism Mood urgent determined Type activist strategic When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - public demonstrations - community organizing Key Concepts Systems change collective action Questions to Reflect On - What political actions can amplify climate solutions? - How can citizens influence policy effectively? A Different Perspective Political systems can be resistant to rapid change ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/) [Engage Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engage-think-3166953/) [Engaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaging/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-national-612172/) [National Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-politics-612171/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-change/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales/) [Short time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-time/) [Think Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-important/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Every election is important for national politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/every-election-is-important-for-national-politics/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [Once you feel the desire to engage, think about what you're good at and what you can contribute. It's about breaking down the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-lewis/once-you-feel-the-desire-to-engage-think-about-what-you-re-good-at/) [Avi Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-lewis/) > [I engage with local politics because it affects people I love. And I engage in national politics because it affects people I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-engage-with-local-politics-because-it-affects-people-i-love-and-i/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [REPRESENTATIVE, n. In national politics, a member of the Lower House in this world, and without discernible hope of promotion in the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/representative-n-in-national-politics-a-member-of-the-lower-house-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I really don't have a lot of interest in national politics, and it's because I'm a skeptic. I think you can accomplish a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-conway/i-really-don-t-have-a-lot-of-interest-in-national-politics-and-it-s/) [Ron Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-conway/) > [The regional parties have emerged as a strong force, and they, too, deserve a place in national politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atal-bihari-vajpayee/the-regional-parties-have-emerged-as-a-strong-force-and-they-too/) [Atal Bihari Vajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atal-bihari-vajpayee/) > [The Australian sees itself not as a mere newspaper, but as a player in the game of national politics, calling upon the vast resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-manne/the-australian-sees-itself-not-as-a-mere-newspaper-but-as-a-player-in/) [Robert Manne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-manne/) > [The 2008 election settled nothing, not even for a while. Our national politics are reflecting what appears to be going on geologically, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-noonan/the-2008-election-settled-nothing-not-even-for-a-while-our-national/) [Peggy Noonan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-noonan/) > [Divisive national politics continue to chip away at our daily life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/divisive-national-politics-continue-to-chip-away-at-our-daily-life/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [One thing I've been thinking about is taking the social issues out of national politics. For example, if Georgia wanted abortion and Alabama didn't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/one-thing-i-ve-been-thinking-about-is-taking-the-social-issues-out-of/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [In my view, it is important that our national government exercise leadership to improve the resiliency of the entire nation in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cartwright/in-my-view-it-is-important-that-our-national-government-exercise/) [Matt Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cartwright/) > [I certainly believe that improving our intelligence is of important national interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-certainly-believe-that-improving-our-intelligence-is-of-important/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [Continuity is very important for national teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/continuity-is-very-important-for-national-teams/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [I think MLS is as important as any of the national leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-pirlo/i-think-mls-is-as-important-as-any-of-the-national-leagues/) [Andrea Pirlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-pirlo/) > [International unity of the workers is more important than the national.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/international-unity-of-the-workers-is-more-important-than-the-national/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) ## More by Bill McKibben > [I try not to be either optimistic or pessimistic. I try not to think about outcomes on that scale. My job, it seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/i-try-not-to-be-either-optimistic-or-pessimistic-i-try-not-to-think/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Oil companies are radical because they're willing to alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/oil-companies-are-radical-because-they-re-willing-to-alter-the/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Whenever anyone challenges anything, the powers that be try to paint them as extremists or radicals or whatever. And I think that's actually nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/whenever-anyone-challenges-anything-the-powers-that-be-try-to-paint/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [My guess is that liberating the fossil fuel industry to frack anywhere they want will drive down the rate at which we're converting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/my-guess-is-that-liberating-the-fossil-fuel-industry-to-frack/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [What makes us different? We're the creature that can decide not to do something that we are capable of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/what-makes-us-different-we-re-the-creature-that-can-decide-not-to-do/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [“The snow was coming down so hard. It looked like the flakes were hurrying to get out of the sky so the next ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/the-snow-was-coming-down-so-hard-it-looked-like-the-flakes-were/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Most of the men and women who vote in Congress each year to continue subsidies have taken campaign donations from big energy companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/most-of-the-men-and-women-who-vote-in-congress-each-year-to-continue/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [“I’ve sat behind a microphone and listened for decades as Americans learned to stop talking with each other and start shouting instead. No discussions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/i-ve-sat-behind-a-microphone-and-listened-for-decades-as-americans/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [People in low-lying countries like Bangladesh with almost 140 million people who are managing to feed themselves, whose carbon emissions can't really be calculated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/people-in-low-lying-countries-like-bangladesh-with-almost-140-million/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [We're putting more carbon into the atmosphere than the atmosphere can absorb. And everybody told us when we started, coz we knew nothing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-re-putting-more-carbon-into-the-atmosphere-than-the-atmosphere-can/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Everything that the administration has done has been counterproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/everything-that-the-administration-has-done-has-been-counterproductive/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [We use the web to help people organize in the flesh, and then we take the images of those events and put them back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-use-the-web-to-help-people-organize-in-the-flesh-and-then-we-take/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [everyone knows, at some level, that the sharp line between "good weather" and "bad weather" is a fiction, that we need rain as surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/everyone-knows-at-some-level-that-the-sharp-line-between-good-weather/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [The thing about global warming is that you can address it on a great number of levels - in fact you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/the-thing-about-global-warming-is-that-you-can-address-it-on-a-great/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Where people aren't as deeply reliant on fossil fuel as in the United States, it's far easier for them to imagine change on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/where-people-aren-t-as-deeply-reliant-on-fossil-fuel-as-in-the-united/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) [Explore all 299 Bill McKibben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) ## More Addresses quotes > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... 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We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [In science, address the few, in literature the many. 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There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-clark/senator-obama-will-be-taking-office-at-a-critical-juncture-there-are/) [Helen Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-clark/) [Browse all 1,100 Addresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addresses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We also have to engage - and I think this is important - in national politics because there is no way to address questions of this scale in the short time that we have to address them without engaging in real political change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill McKibben" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this-is-important-in-national/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Addresses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this-is-important-in-national/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/bill-mckibben-1057_addresses_we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this_1167083.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We also have to engage - and I think this is important - in national politics because there is no way to…” — Bill McKibben", "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": "Bill McKibben", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We also have to engage -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this-is-important-in-national/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/we-also-have-to-engage-and-i-think-this-is-important-in-national/#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 } } ] } ```