---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I definitely subscribe to the idea that…"
description: "\"I definitely subscribe to the idea that 9/11, to use an overused phrase, was a wake-up call. There was a year-long national teach-in on Islam - everyon..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png"
---

#  I definitely subscribe to the idea that 9/11, to use an…

![“I definitely subscribe to the idea that 9/11, to use an overused phrase, was a wake-up call. There was a year-long national teach-in on Islam - everyone read books and suddenly talked about Islam, and that was very productive. But there's no doubt that moment has passed.” quote by Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png)

> “I definitely subscribe to the idea that 9/11, to use an overused phrase, was a wake-up call. There was a year-long national teach-in on Islam - everyone read books and suddenly talked about Islam, and that was very productive. But there's no doubt that moment has passed.”

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote reflects on the intense, temporary surge of public interest and education about Islam after 9/11, noting its productivity but also its fleeting nature.

**In simple terms:** A brief, intense focus on Islam after 9/11 was productive but has faded.

Key Takeaway

Recognize that short‑term spikes in awareness need sustained effort.

Themes

public awareness religion media impact

Mood

reflective urgent

Type

commentary observational

When to use this quote

- education campaigns
- interfaith dialogue
- policy making
- media coverage

Key Concepts

cultural shift information surge

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we maintain constructive dialogue after a crisis?
- What structures keep educational momentum alive?

A Different Perspective

The initial enthusiasm may not translate into lasting understanding without ongoing commitment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/call/) [Definitely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitely/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Islam Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam-read-971530/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [National](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national/) [No doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-doubt/) [Overused Phrase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overused-phrase-2834725/) [Passed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passed/) [Phrase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrase/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Subscribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subscribe/) [Suddenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suddenly/) [Suddenly Talked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suddenly-talked-2834726/) [Talked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talked/) [Talked Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talked-islam-2834724/) [Teach Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-islam-2834727/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) [Wake up call](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up-call/)

## Related quotes

> [I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read in that direction, in the direction of Islam, and everything that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i-began-to-read-in-that/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. I read the Qur'an first and realized no person is perfect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/i-did-not-come-into-contact-with-any-muslim-before-i-embraced-islam-i/)

[Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/)

> [I am obsessed with planning travel! Not just traveling, which I love, but the whole planning process and all the details that go into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-weisberger/i-am-obsessed-with-planning-travel-not-just-traveling-which-i-love/)

[Lauren Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-weisberger/)

> [I subscribe to the school that there are no dumb questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-subscribe-to-the-school-that-there-are-no-dumb-questions/)

[Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/)

> [Podcasting is not really that different from streaming music, which we've done for quite a long time. Having a traditional podcast that people subscribe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dewolfe/podcasting-is-not-really-that-different-from-streaming-music-which-we/)

[Chris DeWolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dewolfe/)

> [I do not subscribe to the advocacy journalism school. It's not who I am and not who CNN wants me to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-king/i-do-not-subscribe-to-the-advocacy-journalism-school-it-s-not-who-i/)

[John King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-king/)

> [“By some need to appear intellectual, non-thinkers will instantly and without question subscribe to the opinions of those they feel other people think are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/by-some-need-to-appear-intellectual-non-thinkers-will-instantly-and/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [I don't subscribe to the narrative that Africa is backward because of colonialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/i-don-t-subscribe-to-the-narrative-that-africa-is-backward-because-of/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [You know, I like to think that I will subscribe very much to the core Republican principles of small government. Making a small number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/you-know-i-like-to-think-that-i-will-subscribe-very-much-to-the-core/)

[Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/)

> [Hello Guys, My Social Medias are Below so Like, Follow, and Subscribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hello-guys-my-social-medias-are-below-so-like-follow-and-subscribe/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Subscribe peoples :D new to this joint ! Godbless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heleinaa/subscribe-peoples-d-new-to-this-joint-godbless/)

[Heleinaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heleinaa/)

> [Subscribe me and like it upp (:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domyneik/subscribe-me-and-like-it-upp/)

[Domyneik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domyneik/)

> [People generally like to subscribe to celebrities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-perich/people-generally-like-to-subscribe-to-celebrities/)

[Tristan Perich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-perich/)

> [I don't actually have a one wellspring of inspiration. Though I'm most often inspired while reading - both fiction and nonfiction. I subscribe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-don-t-actually-have-a-one-wellspring-of-inspiration-though-i-m-most/)

[James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/)

> [“NormnAl, "Like, Share, Follow and subscribe" - The typical cliche drill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/normnal-like-share-follow-and-subscribe-the-typical-cliche-drill/)

[Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/)

## More by Bruce Feiler

> [Moses became America's true founding father because he evangelized action; he justified risk. He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [Even Superman's name reflects his creators' biblical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/even-superman-s-name-reflects-his-creators-biblical-knowledge/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [But humans disappoint. Adam, in tasting the fruit, indicates that he prefers Eve to God, so God banishes them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/but-humans-disappoint-adam-in-tasting-the-fruit-indicates-that-he/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [The way to tell a really big story, I think, is to tell a really small story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/the-way-to-tell-a-really-big-story-i-think-is-to-tell-a-really-small/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [The key idea of agile is that teams essentially manage themselves. ... It works in software, and it turns out that it works with kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/the-key-idea-of-agile-is-that-teams-essentially-manage-themselves-it/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [The bottom line: if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family's positive moments and your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/the-bottom-line-if-you-want-a-happier-family-create-refine-and-retell/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [Knowing more about family history is the single biggest predictor of a child's emotional well-being. Grandparents can play a special role in this process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/knowing-more-about-family-history-is-the-single-biggest-predictor-of/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [“A meta-analysis of sixty-six studies completed in 1992 found that mothers who have more support from grandmothers have less stress and more well-adjusted children.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/a-meta-analysis-of-sixty-six-studies-completed-in-1992-found-that/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [The bottom line: If you want a happier family, bring those skeletons out of the closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/the-bottom-line-if-you-want-a-happier-family-bring-those-skeletons/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [I think that most of the action in religion is around the home, is in families, and is in individual lives, and they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-think-that-most-of-the-action-in-religion-is-around-the-home-is-in/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [My name is Bruce Feiler, and I'm an explainaholic. I first heard this word used to describe Isaac Asimov, and I knew instantly that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/my-name-is-bruce-feiler-and-i-m-an-explainaholic-i-first-heard-this/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [When I was growing up, I, like many Jews, cheered what appeared to be the receding of faith from everyday life. The further religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/when-i-was-growing-up-i-like-many-jews-cheered-what-appeared-to-be/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [You don't need a grand plan, you don't need to go back to the ancestors and rewrite the rules. You just need to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/you-don-t-need-a-grand-plan-you-don-t-need-to-go-back-to-the/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [I grew up in the age of discount air fare, and for me, the act of joining a culture was a great way about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-grew-up-in-the-age-of-discount-air-fare-and-for-me-the-act-of/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [I set out to write an anti-parenting parenting book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-set-out-to-write-an-anti-parenting-parenting-book/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

[Explore all 85 Bruce Feiler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I definitely subscribe to the idea that 9/11, to use an overused phrase, was a wake-up call. There was a year-long national teach-in on Islam - everyone read books and suddenly talked about Islam, and that was very productive. But there's no doubt that moment has passed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bruce Feiler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that-9-11-to-use-an-overused/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that-9-11-to-use-an-overused/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/bruce-feiler-8058_about_i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that_1092793.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I definitely subscribe to the idea that 9/11, to use an overused phrase, was a wake-up call. There was a…” — Bruce Feiler",
                "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": "Bruce Feiler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I definitely subscribe to the idea...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that-9-11-to-use-an-overused/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-definitely-subscribe-to-the-idea-that-9-11-to-use-an-overused/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
