--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always brought up that if you can…" description: "\"I was always brought up that if you can make a difference, you should, and if you don't it's a waste. So we'll see if I can make a difference.\" — David..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/david-miliband-9624_always_i-was-always-brought-up-that-if-you-can_2693768.jpg" --- # I was always brought up that if you can make a difference… ![“I was always brought up that if you can make a difference, you should, and if you don't it's a waste. So we'll see if I can make a difference.” quote by David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/david-miliband-9624_always_i-was-always-brought-up-that-if-you-can_2693768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/david-miliband-9624_always_i-was-always-brought-up-that-if-you-can_2693768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/david-miliband-9624_always_i-was-always-brought-up-that-if-you-can_2693768.jpg) > “I was always brought up that if you can make a difference, you should, and if you don't it's a waste. So we'll see if I can make a difference.” [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes personal responsibility to make a difference, viewing in‑action as wasteful. **In simple terms:** Act to make an impact; avoid wasted potential. Key Takeaway Take initiative to create positive change. Themes activism responsibility purpose Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - policy work - community projects Key Concepts social impact personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What small actions can you take now? - How do you measure the difference you make? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic barriers to impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Brought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brought/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Don Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-waste-802236/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ll Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-make/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-a-difference/) [Make Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-difference/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-ll-2678357/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [The time you waste now you'll wish you used well at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-time-you-waste-now-you-ll-wish-you-used-well-at-the-end/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I think I make a difference. I mean a lot to my people. I've done well. They're proud of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caster-semenya/i-think-i-make-a-difference-i-mean-a-lot-to-my-people-i-ve-done-well/) [Caster Semenya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caster-semenya/) > [I just want to make a difference. I want to make Chrysler the most profitable car company in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-marchionne/i-just-want-to-make-a-difference-i-want-to-make-chrysler-the-most/) [Sergio Marchionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-marchionne/) > [“You were created a hero and born to prove it. Stand on challenges and make a difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-were-created-a-hero-and-born-to-prove-it-stand-on-challenges-and/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Send me to Washington, and if I can't make a difference, I'll voluntarily come back after just one term. Cut the deficit, slash illegal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blaha/send-me-to-washington-and-if-i-can-t-make-a-difference-i-ll/) [Robert Blaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blaha/) > [You don't have to be a nerd or a programmer or a network engineer to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-nerd-or-a-programmer-or-a-network-engineer-to/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I think I will always have a connection to young people, to try to bring their voices to the polls, bring their voices wherever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-i-will-always-have-a-connection-to-young-people-to-try-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I find that as an athlete, we don't get to speak our mind often or share our hearts. So I chose motivational speaking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/i-find-that-as-an-athlete-we-don-t-get-to-speak-our-mind-often-or/) [Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/) > [Anything to make a difference and to seek consensus on an issue is something that I feel strongly about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/anything-to-make-a-difference-and-to-seek-consensus-on-an-issue-is/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [We're going to do our best to help youth feel safe and accepted, so that they have the skills to effect change and recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-germanotta/we-re-going-to-do-our-best-to-help-youth-feel-safe-and-accepted-so/) [Cynthia Germanotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-germanotta/) > [Writing children's books all started out as a way for me to give back and make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/writing-children-s-books-all-started-out-as-a-way-for-me-to-give-back/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) > [I just try to find things that either need to be done, should be done, or where I can make a difference in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-just-try-to-find-things-that-either-need-to-be-done-should-be-done/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [It is our job to make a difference and leave the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/it-is-our-job-to-make-a-difference-and-leave-the-world-a-better-place/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I like candidates who tell me something that is going to make a difference to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/i-like-candidates-who-tell-me-something-that-is-going-to-make-a/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) ## More by David Miliband > [First, climate change is the greatest long-term threat faced by humanity. It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [My favourite poem is called 'Roots and Wings' - it's a very moving poem about how if you've got real roots you can fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/my-favourite-poem-is-called-roots-and-wings-it-s-a-very-moving-poem/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [I can't admit to myself that the creation of a Palestinian state won't happen. What I know is that with each passing year it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/i-can-t-admit-to-myself-that-the-creation-of-a-palestinian-state-won/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [I do not speak Hebrew, but I understand that it has no word for 'history.' The closest word for it is memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/i-do-not-speak-hebrew-but-i-understand-that-it-has-no-word-for/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [We are a European nation - must stay one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/we-are-a-european-nation-must-stay-one/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Turning every business into an environmental industry will involve applying new principles...first, we need to make more with less...second, we need to design out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/turning-every-business-into-an-environmental-industry-will-involve/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [I abhor anything that constitutes torture. Water-boarding, its perfectly clear to me it is torture. I never supported extraordinary rendition to torture, always said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/i-abhor-anything-that-constitutes-torture-water-boarding-its/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Foreign policy is inseparable from domestic policy now. Is terrorism foreign policy or domestic policy? It's both. It's the same with crime, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/foreign-policy-is-inseparable-from-domestic-policy-now-is-terrorism/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [You know, you only get to live life once, so there are two things that that yields. One is that there's no point in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/you-know-you-only-get-to-live-life-once-so-there-are-two-things-that/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [But for me, my personal relations, my personal family relations, are very important, and we've always tried to make sure that the public and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/but-for-me-my-personal-relations-my-personal-family-relations-are/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [The test of leadership for David Cameron was actually to bring the British Conservative Party back in to the mainstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/the-test-of-leadership-for-david-cameron-was-actually-to-bring-the/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [The real danger to Britain is a foreign policy that is isolationist in Europe and therefore weak in the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/the-real-danger-to-britain-is-a-foreign-policy-that-is-isolationist/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [I've learnt that, sometimes, how others see you is not the same as how you see yourself. I've learnt about how you can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/i-ve-learnt-that-sometimes-how-others-see-you-is-not-the-same-as-how/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [My advice is very simple: if you can win a small battle, it gives you confidence in the political process to take on bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/my-advice-is-very-simple-if-you-can-win-a-small-battle-it-gives-you/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [I mean, Britain is a country of successful Muslim businesspeople, teachers and educators, journalists. So, we have to say very strongly that the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/i-mean-britain-is-a-country-of-successful-muslim-businesspeople/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) [Explore all 71 David Miliband quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [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/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [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/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was always brought up that if you can make a difference, you should, and if you don't it's a waste. 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