--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you tell yourself that there is…" description: "\"When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon hope for tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg" --- # When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to… ![“When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon hope for those trapped in captivity.” quote by David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg) > “When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon hope for those trapped in captivity.” [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Underestimating personal agency weakens collective effort against modern slavery. **In simple terms:** Hope and action matter in fighting slavery. Key Takeaway Believe in your impact, act now. Themes human rights activism hope Mood inspirational motivational Type activist humanitarian When to use this quote - community organizing - education campaigns - policy advocacy - support for survivors Key Concepts social justice empowerment global trade Questions to Reflect On - What can you do locally to help? - How does personal hope influence broader movements? A Different Perspective Individual actions may seem small. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Captivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captivity/) [Global Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-slave-4864744/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Trapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-trapped-4289231/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-trade/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trapped/) [Trapped Captivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trapped-captivity-4864743/) [Underestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate/) [Underestimate Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimate-potential-985674/) ## Related quotes > [When illness enters a home, not only does it take hold of a body. It also weaves a dark web between hearts, a web…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/when-illness-enters-a-home-not-only-does-it-take-hold-of-a-body-it/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [We can not underestimate the potential harm North Korea's capabilities can cause for the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-wamp/we-can-not-underestimate-the-potential-harm-north-korea-s/) [Zach Wamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-wamp/) > [Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when wealth and power are at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/never-underestimate-the-potential-for-human-stupidity-when-wealth-and/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [Never underestimate someone's potential when you give them the gift of trust and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-crow/never-underestimate-someone-s-potential-when-you-give-them-the-gift/) [Robin Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-crow/) > [“Never underestimate the potential of your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/never-underestimate-the-potential-of-your-dreams/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Never underestimate your potential for Jannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boonaa-mohammed/never-underestimate-your-potential-for-jannah/) [Boonaa Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boonaa-mohammed/) > [God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners (morality).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/god-almighty-has-set-before-me-two-great-objects-the-suppression-of/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [“God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the supression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/god-almighty-has-set-before-me-two-great-objects-the-supression-of/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [There are more than 27 million people enslaved in the world today - that's double the amount of people taken from Africa during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kristine/there-are-more-than-27-million-people-enslaved-in-the-world-today/) [Lisa Kristine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kristine/) > [“That is what the Slave Trade was all about. Not death from poxes and musketry and whippings and malnutrition and melancholy and suicide: death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bradley/that-is-what-the-slave-trade-was-all-about-not-death-from-poxes-and/) [David Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bradley/) > [“In the American colonies, the first laborers were European indentured servants. When African laborers were forcibly brought to Virginia beginning in 1619, status was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-h-goodman/in-the-american-colonies-the-first-laborers-were-european-indentured/) [Alan H. Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-h-goodman/) > [When I heard the truth about my name was not Cassius Clay, like I knew a black man in America named John Hawkins. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/when-i-heard-the-truth-about-my-name-was-not-cassius-clay-like-i-knew/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Looking at the numbers, the transatlantic slave trade matches the Holocaust in horror - maybe even without counting subsidiary effects like internal strife and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-martin-skibsted/looking-at-the-numbers-the-transatlantic-slave-trade-matches-the/) [Jens Martin Skibsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-martin-skibsted/) > [The slave trade was globalism. Why people insist that globalism, after its hideous history, is a good thing, I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-slave-trade-was-globalism-why-people-insist-that-globalism-after/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“The human race comes from Africa, but inhumanity originated in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-human-race-comes-from-africa-but-inhumanity-originated-in-europe/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by David Batstone > [I get my fuel and inspiration from children, they are our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/i-get-my-fuel-and-inspiration-from-children-they-are-our-future/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [I went to Thailand and built a village for 27 rescued children and this is where my passion to help prevent modern day slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/i-went-to-thailand-and-built-a-village-for-27-rescued-children-and/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [Together we can make a difference and empower communities to be self sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/together-we-can-make-a-difference-and-empower-communities-to-be-self/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [I shall continue to invent new anti-slavery programmes around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/i-shall-continue-to-invent-new-anti-slavery-programmes-around-the/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [My aim is to integrate business connections into vulnerable communities thus creating jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/my-aim-is-to-integrate-business-connections-into-vulnerable/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [ As an organisation \[Not for Sale\] we use social media on a daily basis as a way to share the impact of how our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/as-an-organisation-not-for-sale-we-use-social-media-on-a-daily-basis/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [The initial spark that promoted me to start Not For Sale was human trafficking in the San Francisco Bay Area. This led me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/the-initial-spark-that-promoted-me-to-start-not-for-sale-was-human/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [For our international projects we developed an online skilled volunteer job board to help connect skilled individuals around the world who can help with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/for-our-international-projects-we-developed-an-online-skilled/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [I am an entrepreneur and my goal is to create invention to the solution of human trafficking and extreme poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/i-am-an-entrepreneur-and-my-goal-is-to-create-invention-to-the/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [I want us to continue to scale and grow over the coming years in education, professional development and employment to bring about change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/i-want-us-to-continue-to-scale-and-grow-over-the-coming-years-in/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [Slavery takes so many forms, as it is interwoven within legal industries and is embedded into the supply chain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/slavery-takes-so-many-forms-as-it-is-interwoven-within-legal/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [The idea for Not For Sale originated as a simple brand to tell as many people as possible about what we are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/the-idea-for-not-for-sale-originated-as-a-simple-brand-to-tell-as/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [I like to think that Not For Sale is the Juniper Networks of the social section, a disruptive innovator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/i-like-to-think-that-not-for-sale-is-the-juniper-networks-of-the/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [The main challenge Not For Sale is big and it is modern day slavery, which is a $32billion dollar industry second to the illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/the-main-challenge-not-for-sale-is-big-and-it-is-modern-day-slavery/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) > [My greatest inspiration has to be a Thai lady called Kru Nam, 40, she is from an upper middle class family and degree educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/my-greatest-inspiration-has-to-be-a-thai-lady-called-kru-nam-40-she/) [David Batstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) [Explore all 19 David Batstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/) ## More Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) [Kenan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-malik/) > [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/) [T.L. Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/every-great-thing-starts-with-an-idea-followed-by-a-doubt-and-finally/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't give up because things are hard, but work harder, when you think of giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/don-t-give-up-because-things-are-hard-but-work-harder-when-you-think/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I care so deeply about this matter that I'm willing to take on the legal penalties, to sit in this prison cell, to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-care-so-deeply-about-this-matter-that-i-m-willing-to-take-on-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. I like being taken to the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-ve-been-to-unpretty-places-with-the-roles-i-ve-played-and-i-m/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) [Browse all 1,142 Abandon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon hope for those trapped in captivity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Batstone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-to-arrest-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abandon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-to-arrest-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/david-batstone-28498_abandon_when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-not_3016998.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate…” — David Batstone", "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": "David Batstone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-batstone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you tell yourself that there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-to-arrest-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-batstone/when-you-tell-yourself-that-there-is-nothing-you-can-do-to-arrest-the/#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 } } ] } ```