--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many individuals are doing what they can…" description: "\"Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/david-attenborough-2396_change_many-individuals-are-doing-what-they-can_2023954.jpg" --- # Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success… ![“Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.” quote by David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/david-attenborough-2396_change_many-individuals-are-doing-what-they-can_2023954.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/david-attenborough-2396_change_many-individuals-are-doing-what-they-can_2023954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/david-attenborough-2396_change_many-individuals-are-doing-what-they-can_2023954.jpg) > “Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.” [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual effort is valuable, but systemic change in society, economy, and politics is essential for true success. **In simple terms:** People must change systems, not just act alone. Key Takeaway Focus on collective action and policy reform. Themes environment justice systemic change collective action Mood concerned determined Type activist reflective When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - grassroots movements Key Concepts sustainability political economy social reform Questions to Reflect On - How can we influence policy to support environmental goals? - What systemic barriers exist today? A Different Perspective Individual actions alone cannot solve structural problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Societies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-societies-252491/) [Doing Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-real-355704/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-success/) [Societies Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/societies-economics-3681455/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-come/) ## Related quotes > [The future of life on earth depends on our ability to take action. Many individuals are doing what they can, but real success can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/the-future-of-life-on-earth-depends-on-our-ability-to-take-action/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Change in the societies at the very bottom must come predominantly from within; we cannot impose it on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-collier/change-in-the-societies-at-the-very-bottom-must-come-predominantly/) [Paul Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-collier/) > [When we talk about technology, often, we talk about the fact that it's going to be cool; it's going to do all these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/when-we-talk-about-technology-often-we-talk-about-the-fact-that-it-s/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [To change societies you need to organize with others who share your views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gro-harlem-brundtland/to-change-societies-you-need-to-organize-with-others-who-share-your/) [Gro Harlem Brundtland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gro-harlem-brundtland/) > [Countries that have the Internet already are not going to turn it off. And so the power of freedom, the power of ideas will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/countries-that-have-the-internet-already-are-not-going-to-turn-it-off/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [“When we try to bring about change in our societies, we are treated first with indifference, then with ridicule, then with abuse and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-t-ariyarante/when-we-try-to-bring-about-change-in-our-societies-we-are-treated/) [A.T. Ariyarante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-t-ariyarante/) > [I didn't want to be the 40-year-old still on MTV doing 'Real World.' I loved the show. I loved the people on it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/i-didn-t-want-to-be-the-40-year-old-still-on-mtv-doing-real-world-i/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [When you are doing a real life story, it requires a lot of sensitivity, a lot of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-shah/when-you-are-doing-a-real-life-story-it-requires-a-lot-of-sensitivity/) [Shefali Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-shah/) > [Ultimately, I don't care if people decide that what I'm doing is real or not...as long as they understand it isn't EASY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-maven/ultimately-i-don-t-care-if-people-decide-that-what-i-m-doing-is-real/) [Max Maven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-maven/) > [There is a strong feeling in the Middle West that the artist is not pulling his own weight no matter how hard he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-is-a-strong-feeling-in-the-middle-west-that-the-artist-is-not/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Being a soldier's daughter, I understand that what they are doing is the real deal. But me giving statement on the issue is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/being-a-soldier-s-daughter-i-understand-that-what-they-are-doing-is/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [Wassup, real nigga doing real stuff. Get a lot of money, you could never get enough and you know the new shit sounds so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/wassup-real-nigga-doing-real-stuff-get-a-lot-of-money-you-could-never/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Sometimes I get, "Have you ever thought about doing real music?" I like to think the music I do is real, it just happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/sometimes-i-get-have-you-ever-thought-about-doing-real-music-i-like/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [It’s always been in between the things I thought I was doing that the real work has happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kentridge/it-s-always-been-in-between-the-things-i-thought-i-was-doing-that-the/) [William Kentridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kentridge/) > [The harder part of doing a real story is that there are real people and you have a responsibility to not just go crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/the-harder-part-of-doing-a-real-story-is-that-there-are-real-people/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) ## More by David Attenborough > [I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-just-wish-the-world-was-twice-as-big-and-half-of-it-was-still/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I'm against this huge globalisation on the basis of economic advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-m-against-this-huge-globalisation-on-the-basis-of-economic-advantage/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/bringing-nature-into-the-classroom-can-kindle-a-fascination-and/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I don't approve of sunbathing, and it's bad for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-don-t-approve-of-sunbathing-and-it-s-bad-for-you/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I suspect that happiness is not a state but rather a transition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suspect-that-happiness-is-not-a-state-but-rather-a-transition/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I don't like rats, but there's not much else I don't like. The problem with rats is they have no fear of human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-don-t-like-rats-but-there-s-not-much-else-i-don-t-like-the-problem/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [“We only know a tiny proportion about the complexity of the natural world. Wherever you look, there are still things we don’t know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/we-only-know-a-tiny-proportion-about-the-complexity-of-the-natural/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [At a time when it's possible for thirty people to stand on the top of Everest in one day, Antarctica still remains a remote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/at-a-time-when-it-s-possible-for-thirty-people-to-stand-on-the-top-of/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I suffer much less than many of my colleagues. I am perfectly able to go to Australia and film within three hours of arrival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suffer-much-less-than-many-of-my-colleagues-i-am-perfectly-able-to/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I'm not over-fond of animals. I am merely astounded by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-m-not-over-fond-of-animals-i-am-merely-astounded-by-them/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Television of course actually started in Britain in 1936, and it was a monopoly, and there was only one broadcaster and it operated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/television-of-course-actually-started-in-britain-in-1936-and-it-was-a/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [It's extraordinary how self-obsessed human beings are. The things that people always go on about is, 'tell us about us', 'tell us about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/it-s-extraordinary-how-self-obsessed-human-beings-are-the-things-that/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [This last chapter .. may have given the impression that somehow man is the ultimate triumph of evolution, that all these millions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/this-last-chapter-may-have-given-the-impression-that-somehow-man-is/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [To suggest that God specifically created a worm to torture small African children is blasphemy as far as I can see. The Archbishop of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/to-suggest-that-god-specifically-created-a-worm-to-torture-small/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [In the Baboon community, it is not how strong you are that is important, but who you know that counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/in-the-baboon-community-it-is-not-how-strong-you-are-that-is/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) [Explore all 168 David Attenborough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many individuals are doing what they can. 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