---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to be willing to offend in order…"
description: "\"You have to be willing to offend in order to make progress.\" — Claire McCaskill"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png"
---

#  You have to be willing to offend in order to make progress.

![“You have to be willing to offend in order to make progress.” quote by Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png)

> “You have to be willing to offend in order to make progress.”

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

## About This Quote

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

Progress often requires challenging norms, which can offend those attached to the status quo.

**In simple terms:** Offending others may be necessary for progress.

Key Takeaway

Be prepared to face criticism when innovating.

Themes

progress offense change

Mood

determined cautious

Type

political motivational

When to use this quote

- political reform
- cultural shifts
- organizational change

Key Concepts

ethics social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What risks are you willing to take for progress?
- How do you balance respect with disruption?

A Different Perspective

Offense can alienate allies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-progress/) [Offend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offend/) [Offend Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offend-order-3891751/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Willing Offend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing-offend-3891750/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [Do you want to make progress? If so, then take each problem not as a challenging rival, but as an encouraging friend of yours,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/do-you-want-to-make-progress-if-so-then-take-each-problem-not-as-a/)

[Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/)

> [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [To make progress you must actually get started. The key is to take a step today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/to-make-progress-you-must-actually-get-started-the-key-is-to-take-a/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [“Offence is like muddy soil; when trapped underfoot, it resists rapid progress. Don't trap offences under your mind, else you resist change! Jesus said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/offence-is-like-muddy-soil-when-trapped-underfoot-it-resists-rapid/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [We must make progress slowly so as to preserve the progress we have already made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/we-must-make-progress-slowly-so-as-to-preserve-the-progress-we-have/)

[Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/)

> [It's hard to make progress with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/it-s-hard-to-make-progress-with-grief/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [You never stop trying to make progress as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/you-never-stop-trying-to-make-progress-as-a-musician/)

[Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/)

> [If you're going to worry about what people say, you're never going to make any progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murray/if-you-re-going-to-worry-about-what-people-say-you-re-never-going-to/)

[Joseph Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murray/)

> [Although you perform many works, if you do not deny your will and submit yourself, losing all solicitude about yourself and your affairs, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-john-of-the-cross/although-you-perform-many-works-if-you-do-not-deny-your-will-and/)

[St John Of The Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-john-of-the-cross/)

> [Those who are not dissatisfied will never make any progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeo-shingo/those-who-are-not-dissatisfied-will-never-make-any-progress/)

[Shigeo Shingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeo-shingo/)

> [“If you do not chase in directly toward the place where your opponents have gathered, you will not make progress. And, if you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/if-you-do-not-chase-in-directly-toward-the-place-where-your-opponents/)

[Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/)

> [We make progress in society only if we stop cursing and complaining about its shortcomings and have the courage to do something about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-make-progress-in-society-only-if-we-stop-cursing-and-complaining/)

[Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/)

> [One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign. To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-way-to-become-enthusiastic-is-to-look-for-the-plus-sign-to-make/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/)

[David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/)

> [When we make progress quickly, it feeds our emotions. Then, when there's a period of waiting or we hit a plateau, we find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/when-we-make-progress-quickly-it-feeds-our-emotions-then-when-there-s/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

## More by Claire McCaskill

> [No commander in chief would ever say, 'I'm not going to listen to the guys on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/no-commander-in-chief-would-ever-say-i-m-not-going-to-listen-to-the/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [Only in Washington would the Republican operatives get the entire press corps ginned up over the notion that I'm going to be home campaigning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/only-in-washington-would-the-republican-operatives-get-the-entire/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I'm going to work with Republicans when they do things I agree with and I'm going to fight Republicans when they're doing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-going-to-work-with-republicans-when-they-do-things-i-agree-with/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I'm a moderate. I hang out in the middle. I vote against my party with some regularity and try to compromise. It doesn't appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-a-moderate-i-hang-out-in-the-middle-i-vote-against-my-party-with/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I think, first of all, you know, Washington has a bad habit of a very short attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-think-first-of-all-you-know-washington-has-a-bad-habit-of-a-very/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I worry about the lack of experience that Rex Tillerson has had on the diplomatic front and, frankly, I think that's true for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-worry-about-the-lack-of-experience-that-rex-tillerson-has-had-on/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [First of all, Donald Trump cabinet or - I call it the 3-G cabinet, Goldman, generals and gazillionaires. And I think it's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/first-of-all-donald-trump-cabinet-or-i-call-it-the-3-g-cabinet/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I want to compliment the fraternity and sorority organizations for taking the time to meet with us and then removing their support from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-want-to-compliment-the-fraternity-and-sorority-organizations-for/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [My first obligation is my job. It's very hard to really get into campaign mode when you've got to focus on doing the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/my-first-obligation-is-my-job-it-s-very-hard-to-really-get-into/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [ What is most heartbreaking to me is the young women who don't report \[being raped\] because they were drinking, and they feel like it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/what-is-most-heartbreaking-to-me-is-the-young-women-who-don-t-report/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [ \[Hillary Clinton\] and I are fine. Are we going to be besties for the rest of our lives? No. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/hillary-clinton-and-i-are-fine-are-we-going-to-be-besties-for-the/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I have fought the establishment, run primaries, my entire career. I think that for Planned Parenthood or NARAL or the Human Rights Campaign to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-have-fought-the-establishment-run-primaries-my-entire-career-i/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [Corporate governance is a huge issue too. We don't have women on these corporate boards. More than half of the students in law school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/corporate-governance-is-a-huge-issue-too-we-don-t-have-women-on-these/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [I've got a really hard election. If you had a really hard election and it was after Labor Day would you go to North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-ve-got-a-really-hard-election-if-you-had-a-really-hard-election-and/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

> [After holding hearings to get input from Missourians, I led the fight to pass legislation that protects seniors from predatory lending in the mortgage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/after-holding-hearings-to-get-input-from-missourians-i-led-the-fight/)

[Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

[Explore all 100 Claire McCaskill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/)

## More Make quotes

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [You gotta make sacrifices sometimes. It's just the life that we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/you-gotta-make-sacrifices-sometimes-it-s-just-the-life-that-we-live/)

[Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/)

> [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/)

[Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/)

> [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/)

[Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [There is a broad range of reaction to the work, as there is a broad range of work I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hodges/there-is-a-broad-range-of-reaction-to-the-work-as-there-is-a-broad/)

[Jim Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hodges/)

> [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/)

[Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/)

> [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/)

[Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/)

[Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/)

[Browse all 16,612 Make quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You have to be willing to offend in order to make progress.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claire McCaskill"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-order-to-make-progress/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Make"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-order-to-make-progress/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/claire-mccaskill-5688_make_you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-orde_1243691.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You have to be willing to offend in order to make progress.” — Claire McCaskill",
                "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": "Claire McCaskill",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You have to be willing to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-order-to-make-progress/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/you-have-to-be-willing-to-offend-in-order-to-make-progress/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
