--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid…" description: "\"We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid of having difficult conversations.\" — Clive Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg" --- # We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid of having… ![“We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid of having difficult conversations.” quote by Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg) > “We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid of having difficult conversations.” [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growth requires confronting tough topics; avoiding them stalls development. **In simple terms:** Avoiding hard talks hinders growth. Key Takeaway Embrace difficult conversations to evolve. Themes leadership growth communication Mood courageous reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - political campaigns - personal relationships - organizational change Key Concepts Psychology conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What conversation are you avoiding? - How might confronting it benefit your group? A Different Perspective Fear can cause avoidance, reducing openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-having-1544432/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-conversations/) [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Party Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party-afraid-1636615/) ## Related quotes > [You're not learning anything unless you're having the difficult conversations,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/you-re-not-learning-anything-unless-you-re-having-the-difficult/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [The Democratic Party is very afraid of having competition that is actually unmuzzled and that can tell the truth, which is why they keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/the-democratic-party-is-very-afraid-of-having-competition-that-is/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [ \[on the Republican party\] A party with a narrow vision, a party that is afraid of the future. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/on-the-republican-party-a-party-with-a-narrow-vision-a-party-that-is/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“An employee wanders into work late, something you’ve been meaning to talk to them about, so you say, “Late again, eh?” and leave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-stone/an-employee-wanders-into-work-late-something-you-ve-been-meaning-to/) [Douglas Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-stone/) > [I'm not afraid of having big banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-warsh/i-m-not-afraid-of-having-big-banks/) [Kevin Warsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-warsh/) > [I'm afraid of time. I mean, I'm afraid of not having enough time. Not enough time to understand people, how they really are, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-afraid-of-time-i-mean-i-m-afraid-of-not-having-enough-time-not-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not dying you need to be afraid of, it's never having lived in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/it-s-not-dying-you-need-to-be-afraid-of-it-s-never-having-lived-in/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [“I’m afraid to let him go, Nina, but I’m even more afraid of… of having him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-cochet/i-m-afraid-to-let-him-go-nina-but-i-m-even-more-afraid-of-of-having/) [Charlie Cochet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-cochet/) > [I'm not afraid to die. What I'm afraid of is having reality get the better of me, of having reality leave me behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-m-not-afraid-to-die-what-i-m-afraid-of-is-having-reality-get-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Its not dying that you need to be afraid of, its never having lived in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-dying-that-you-need-to-be-afraid-of-its-never-having-lived-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Puritan is someone who is desperately afraid that, somewhere, someone might be having a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-puritan-is-someone-who-is-desperately-afraid-that-somewhere-someone/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I'm afraid of time... I mean, I'm afraid of not having enough time. Not enough time to understand people, how they really are, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/i-m-afraid-of-time-i-mean-i-m-afraid-of-not-having-enough-time-not/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Being afraid of having an endoscopy (if you're a man) and giving birth (if you're a woman).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/being-afraid-of-having-an-endoscopy-if-you-re-a-man-and-giving-birth/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“I’m not afraid of anything, yet I think I’m afraid of Charlie. Not afraid of her. Afraid of having her. Of losing her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-tucker/i-m-not-afraid-of-anything-yet-i-think-i-m-afraid-of-charlie-not/) [K.A. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-tucker/) > [I was afraid of having to present my big nose to strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violette-leduc/i-was-afraid-of-having-to-present-my-big-nose-to-strangers/) [Violette Leduc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violette-leduc/) ## More by Clive Lewis > [Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is not afraid to take on the very wealthiest, committing to the most comprehensive anti-tax avoidance plan ever presented by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/labour-under-jeremy-corbyn-is-not-afraid-to-take-on-the-very/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Central to being a humanist, which I am, is the core understanding that doubt and criticism are essential attributes in the quest for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/central-to-being-a-humanist-which-i-am-is-the-core-understanding-that/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Poor people can't cut their emissions - they don't make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/poor-people-can-t-cut-their-emissions-they-don-t-make-them/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I think many of the virtues and values of the army are very similar to the virtues and values of socialism, of the Labour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-think-many-of-the-virtues-and-values-of-the-army-are-very-similar/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [The 21st century has more potential than perhaps any other in our brief evolutionary history. We stand on the cusp of computing, genetic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/the-21st-century-has-more-potential-than-perhaps-any-other-in-our/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [We were the first country in the world to carbonise our economy and to reap the huge economic rewards that followed and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/we-were-the-first-country-in-the-world-to-carbonise-our-economy-and/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [At times of constitutional uncertainty and social division, parliament needs a greater, not a lesser role, in defining our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/at-times-of-constitutional-uncertainty-and-social-division-parliament/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [My vision for the country is of warmth and energy. A country that starts every conversation and every project - either in business or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/my-vision-for-the-country-is-of-warmth-and-energy-a-country-that/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I'm known for wearing tweed jackets, khaki pants and suede shoes. I've only worn a suit in parliament under duress, when I was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-m-known-for-wearing-tweed-jackets-khaki-pants-and-suede-shoes-i-ve/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [E.U. law provides agency workers with the right to equal treatment, and all workers with maximum working hours. It forces governments to take environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/e-u-law-provides-agency-workers-with-the-right-to-equal-treatment-and/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [On their deathbed, do people think: 'I wish I'd spent more time with my Ferrari'? Or do they say: 'I wish I'd spent more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/on-their-deathbed-do-people-think-i-wish-i-d-spent-more-time-with-my/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I don't consider myself a subject, I think I'm a citizen of this country and I think the vast majority of people consider themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-subject-i-think-i-m-a-citizen-of-this/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Chasing new runway capacity to cater to ever more frequent leisure flights by Britain's wealthiest households isn't just iniquitous - it's bad economic policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/chasing-new-runway-capacity-to-cater-to-ever-more-frequent-leisure/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Understandably, the electorate places great faith in the professional soldiers and strategists that run our military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/understandably-the-electorate-places-great-faith-in-the-professional/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Climate change is a humongous challenge but it also presents numerous economic opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/climate-change-is-a-humongous-challenge-but-it-also-presents-numerous/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) [Explore all 100 Clive Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid of having difficult conversations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clive Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid-of-having-difficult/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid-of-having-difficult/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/841/clive-lewis-5613_afraid_we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid_944205.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can't grow as a party, if we're afraid of having difficult conversations.” — Clive Lewis", "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": "Clive Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We can't grow as a party,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid-of-having-difficult/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/we-can-t-grow-as-a-party-if-we-re-afraid-of-having-difficult/#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 } } ] } ```