--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At university, my generation were ready…" description: "\"At university, my generation were ready to fight, but we didn't really have anything to fight for.\" — Claire Messud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png" --- # At university, my generation were ready to fight, but we… ![“At university, my generation were ready to fight, but we didn't really have anything to fight for.” quote by Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png) > “At university, my generation were ready to fight, but we didn't really have anything to fight for.” [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Young activists felt ready but lacked a clear cause, leading to aimless energy. **In simple terms:** Ready to fight, but no cause. Key Takeaway Find purpose before action. Themes youth activism purpose Mood reflective determined Type memoir analytical When to use this quote - student protests - career choices - community organizing Key Concepts political theory social movements Questions to Reflect On - What drives your activism? - How can you discover meaningful causes? A Different Perspective Purpose may be hard to define. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [There is a strand of self-absorption and fragility running through this generation; all too ready to cry 'victim' at the first hint of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/there-is-a-strand-of-self-absorption-and-fragility-running-through/) [Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/) > [“Millennials don't want to be managed, they like to be led, coached and mentored. This generation is on fire and ready to go. Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farshad-asl/millennials-don-t-want-to-be-managed-they-like-to-be-led-coached-and/) [Farshad Asl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farshad-asl/) > [At the same time the folk boom was happening, the civil rights movement was happening, the anti-war movement was happening, the ban the bomb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/at-the-same-time-the-folk-boom-was-happening-the-civil-rights/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [When I played 'Survivor', I sat back many times and marveled that no one had gotten into a real physical altercation. With all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-i-played-survivor-i-sat-back-many-times-and-marveled-that-no-one/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [I said I needed to force Jon Jones to fight me and I didn't do that. He didn't fight me, he nullified me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/i-said-i-needed-to-force-jon-jones-to-fight-me-and-i-didn-t-do-that/) [Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/) > [“He stretched out an arm and watched the myriad emotions that crossed her face as she contemplated the spot beside him. She had slept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/he-stretched-out-an-arm-and-watched-the-myriad-emotions-that-crossed/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [I got cut against Groves, and I couldn't see out of my eye most of the fight but it didn't hurt. Groves probably weighed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/i-got-cut-against-groves-and-i-couldn-t-see-out-of-my-eye-most-of-the/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [Jeremy Stephens is a fight I didn't want to take because he was behind me on the rankings. 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I got hit hard and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/the-b-j-penn-fight-was-the-first-one-where-i-ever-took-damage-i-got/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [How often have you seen a fighter talking about the next fight and he didn't win the fight he was in? You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/how-often-have-you-seen-a-fighter-talking-about-the-next-fight-and-he/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [“Emily was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I'd be damned if I let her go without a fight. So if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-r-martin/emily-was-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me-and-i-d-be-damned/) [Kelley R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-r-martin/) > [“I’d always said that I didn’t hit girls or challenged kids, and what it came to a fight between the two, I didn’t know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-jade-lange/i-d-always-said-that-i-didn-t-hit-girls-or-challenged-kids-and-what/) [Erin Jade Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-jade-lange/) > [Listen to what I'm saying: I'm back. Junior Dos Santos, Alexander Volkov, or revenge against Stipe Miocic. That fight, I didn't do well, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ngannou/listen-to-what-i-m-saying-i-m-back-junior-dos-santos-alexander-volkov/) [Francis Ngannou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ngannou/) ## More by Claire Messud > [I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-d-wish-for-my-work-to-be-remembered-rather-than-myself/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I have said it somewhere - our literary lived lives are as important as our literally lived lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-have-said-it-somewhere-our-literary-lived-lives-are-as-important-as/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Life is about deciding what matters. It’s about the fantasy that determines the reality. Have you ever asked yourself whether you’d rather fly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-is-about-deciding-what-matters-it-s-about-the-fantasy-that/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to keep laughing, even after you realize that none of your dreams will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-keep-going-to-keep-laughing/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [It's the strangest thing about being human: to know so much, to communicate so much, and yet always to fall so drastically short of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-s-the-strangest-thing-about-being-human-to-know-so-much-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [The fictional narratives that television, film, and the news provide for girls and young women are appalling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/the-fictional-narratives-that-television-film-and-the-news-provide/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“I don't want to sleep,' my mother said. 'I want -- for God's sake, I want to wake up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-don-t-want-to-sleep-my-mother-said-i-want-for-god-s-sake-i-want-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It was supposed to say “Great Artist” on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say “such a good teacher/​daughter/​friend” instead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-was-supposed-to-say-great-artist-on-my-tombstone-but-if-i-died/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Live, my dear Nora. Satisfy your hunger. There's food all around you, you know.' 'What kind of food, I'd like to know?' 'Ah'-he smiled-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/live-my-dear-nora-satisfy-your-hunger-there-s-food-all-around-you-you/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I digress a lot - it's how I experience the world. I would like to write in a way that will convey that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-digress-a-lot-it-s-how-i-experience-the-world-i-would-like-to-write/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [We think that - as kids, you know - that kids make up stories and live in a sort of fictional place, but that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/we-think-that-as-kids-you-know-that-kids-make-up-stories-and-live-in/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It makes sense that if you stand almost daily in the middle of a perfect crescent of shore, with a vista open to eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-makes-sense-that-if-you-stand-almost-daily-in-the-middle-of-a/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Once aware of my isolation, I was afraid not of it but of its interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/once-aware-of-my-isolation-i-was-afraid-not-of-it-but-of-its/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“who I am in my head, very few people really get to see that. Almost none. It’s the most precious gift I can give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/who-i-am-in-my-head-very-few-people-really-get-to-see-that-almost/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“My everyday Appleton life, my phones calls to my father, my occasional beers with friends, my Saturday-morning jobs around the reservoir - what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/my-everyday-appleton-life-my-phones-calls-to-my-father-my-occasional/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) [Explore all 249 Claire Messud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## More Fight quotes > [“I wanted a fight. I needed a fight. I was sick and tired of playing nice. I AM NOT NICE. - Caleb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-roberts/i-wanted-a-fight-i-needed-a-fight-i-was-sick-and-tired-of-playing/) [C.J. Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-roberts/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-am-a-fighter-and-i-am-in-that-fight-and-i-have-to-make-sure-that-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [I want to fight the fights that fans want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/i-want-to-fight-the-fights-that-fans-want-to-see/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-shall-fight-against-them-throw-them-in-prisons-and-destroy-them/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I really believe if GSP and Silva fight, Georges will have his hand raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hughes/i-really-believe-if-gsp-and-silva-fight-georges-will-have-his-hand/) [Matt Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hughes/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [Therefore, our fight must primarily be a political mass struggle with revolutionary goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/therefore-our-fight-must-primarily-be-a-political-mass-struggle-with/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) [Browse all 9,748 Fight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At university, my generation were ready to fight, but we didn't really have anything to fight for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire Messud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/at-university-my-generation-were-ready-to-fight-but-we-didn-t-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/at-university-my-generation-were-ready-to-fight-but-we-didn-t-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/claire-messud-1372_fight_at-university-my-generation-were-ready-t_2068069.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At university, my generation were ready to fight, but we didn't really have anything to fight for.” — Claire Messud", "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 Messud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At university, my generation were ready...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/at-university-my-generation-were-ready-to-fight-but-we-didn-t-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/at-university-my-generation-were-ready-to-fight-but-we-didn-t-really/#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 } } ] } ```