---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people who think that we cannot…"
description: "\"There are people who think that we cannot rule ourselves because the few times we tried, we failed, as if all the others who rule themselves today got ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-505_adults_there-are-people-who-think-that-we-canno_1793753.png"
---

#  There are people who think that we cannot rule ourselves…

![“There are people who think that we cannot rule ourselves because the few times we tried, we failed, as if all the others who rule themselves today got it right the first time. It is like telling a crawling baby who tries to walk, and then falls back on his buttocks, to stay there. As if the adults…” quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-505_adults_there-are-people-who-think-that-we-canno_1793753.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-505_adults_there-are-people-who-think-that-we-canno_1793753.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-505_adults_there-are-people-who-think-that-we-canno_1793753.png)

> “There are people who think that we cannot rule ourselves because the few times we tried, we failed, as if all the others who rule themselves today got it right the first time. It is like telling a crawling baby who tries to walk, and then falls back on his buttocks, to stay there. As if the adults walking past him did not crawl, once”

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

## About This Quote

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

Self‑governance is possible despite past failures; learning from early attempts is essential.

**In simple terms:** People can rule themselves even after setbacks.

Key Takeaway

Encourage perseverance and learning from mistakes.

Themes

self‑reliance growth resilience

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- education reform
- personal development
- community organizing
- political activism

Key Concepts

psychology political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What past failure taught you the most?
- How can societies support self‑governance?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on optimism may ignore systemic obstacles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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