--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Find an issue that's important to you…" description: "\"Find an issue that's important to you, and be as curious and close to it as possible.\" — DeRay Mckesson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg" --- # Find an issue that's important to you, and be as curious… ![“Find an issue that's important to you, and be as curious and close to it as possible.” quote by DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg) > “Find an issue that's important to you, and be as curious and close to it as possible.” [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engage deeply with a cause you care about by staying curious and close to its core. **In simple terms:** Stay curious and connected to important issues. Key Takeaway Invest time in understanding the issue. Themes activism curiosity engagement Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - policy advocacy - research projects Key Concepts social justice community building Questions to Reflect On - What steps keep you motivated while staying close to an issue? - How do you balance curiosity with action? A Different Perspective Over‑focus can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [It's very important to be curious in a very universal way. Whether someone is poor or rich, I'm curious about everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tang/it-s-very-important-to-be-curious-in-a-very-universal-way-whether/) [David Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tang/) > [If the abortion issue is important to me, this is how you tackle that issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-the-abortion-issue-is-important-to-me-this-is-how-you-tackle-that/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [This issue was not important that you do mistakes \| important that you do not admit their mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/this-issue-was-not-important-that-you-do-mistakes-important-that-you/) Mak\_786 > [“Sometimes in evaluating dynamics of change, we are tempted to point to one issue as more important than any other in someone’s healing. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/sometimes-in-evaluating-dynamics-of-change-we-are-tempted-to-point-to/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [I can't think of any issue that is more important than working to see that no schoolchild in this world goes hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-can-t-think-of-any-issue-that-is-more-important-than-working-to-see/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Regardless of what is being discussed . . . the issue is never more important than the quality of the interaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/regardless-of-what-is-being-discussed-the-issue-is-never-more/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [Obama has acted aggressively on the issue most important to my generation: climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/obama-has-acted-aggressively-on-the-issue-most-important-to-my/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [Veteran employment is an issue that is very important to me and my Administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ivey/veteran-employment-is-an-issue-that-is-very-important-to-me-and-my/) [Kay Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ivey/) > [No issue is more important to this Congress than securing our borders and protecting our homeland, and I guarantee it is very important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-issue-is-more-important-to-this-congress-than-securing-our-borders/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't work on the biceps and ignore the rest of the body, and you can't just say one issue is important when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/you-can-t-work-on-the-biceps-and-ignore-the-rest-of-the-body-and-you/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [If you don't think about or deal with an issue, it gets bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-heughan/if-you-don-t-think-about-or-deal-with-an-issue-it-gets-bigger/) [Sam Heughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-heughan/) > [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [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 > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-ask-to-be-judged-on-the-issue-of-unemployment/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) ## More by DeRay Mckesson > [I love Baltimore. This city has made me the man that I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-love-baltimore-this-city-has-made-me-the-man-that-i-am/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [The first time I was ever impressed with Patagonia as a brand was when they released the 'Don't Buy This Jacket' campaign. That campaign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/the-first-time-i-was-ever-impressed-with-patagonia-as-a-brand-was/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [For our kids to go to school, they must be alive, and for adults to work, they must not be in jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/for-our-kids-to-go-to-school-they-must-be-alive-and-for-adults-to/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [When our response to all trauma is to call the police, then that gets us into a cycle of perpetuating trauma. Mental health trauma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/when-our-response-to-all-trauma-is-to-call-the-police-then-that-gets/) [Deray McKesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I think that I, because of student government and because of working in Baltimore, knew how to be creative with very little resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-i-because-of-student-government-and-because-of-working/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Social media allowed us to become our own storytellers. With it, we seized the power of our truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/social-media-allowed-us-to-become-our-own-storytellers-with-it-we/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [What we know to be true is that comfort isn't always freedom. People confuse the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/what-we-know-to-be-true-is-that-comfort-isn-t-always-freedom-people/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Donald Trump is dangerous. The truth is that the bigotry and hatred that he speaks have real consequences in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/donald-trump-is-dangerous-the-truth-is-that-the-bigotry-and-hatred/) [Deray McKesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I will never forget the first time I was teargassed or the night I hid under my steering wheel as the SWAT vehicle drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-will-never-forget-the-first-time-i-was-teargassed-or-the-night-i/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [There is nothing romantic about teargas. Or smoke bombs or rubber bullets or sound cannons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/there-is-nothing-romantic-about-teargas-or-smoke-bombs-or-rubber/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Most of my life's information is public. I got a text one day from a hacker who texted me all of my credit card…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/most-of-my-life-s-information-is-public-i-got-a-text-one-day-from-a/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [When I think about protest, I worry so much that people think about it only as standing in the streets. And I say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/when-i-think-about-protest-i-worry-so-much-that-people-think-about-it/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I think that Silicon Valley and technology can play a huge role in redefining what community looks like and how people come together and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-silicon-valley-and-technology-can-play-a-huge-role-in/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [There are people who have demonstrated their willingness to challenge systems and structures, and then when it comes to elections, some of those same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/there-are-people-who-have-demonstrated-their-willingness-to-challenge/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Skills acquisition is really at the heart of what it means to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/skills-acquisition-is-really-at-the-heart-of-what-it-means-to-learn/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) [Explore all 108 DeRay Mckesson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) ## More Curious quotes > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [“The process of becoming curious is the movement away from simply living by what and how, and moving into the beautifully ambiguous and possibility-laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-tygrett/the-process-of-becoming-curious-is-the-movement-away-from-simply/) Casey Tygrett > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [I don't know what successful journaling really looks like... I think it really does look so different for everyone who does it, I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-don-t-know-what-successful-journaling-really-looks-like-i-think-it/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [“So curious you must be. Like little calves poking their heads through the fence with big eyes and a headful of curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/so-curious-you-must-be-like-little-calves-poking-their-heads-through/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [Be curious not judge mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/be-curious-not-judge-mental/) Unknow > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [Easy, Curious George! Get your grubby hands off of that wheel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/easy-curious-george-get-your-grubby-hands-off-of-that-wheel/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [We want to explore. We're curious people. Look back over history, people have put their lives at stake to go out and explore ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-collins/we-want-to-explore-we-re-curious-people-look-back-over-history-people/) [Eileen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-collins/) > [When I think about unique insight, what I think about is here's your opportunity to tell me something that I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-seibel/when-i-think-about-unique-insight-what-i-think-about-is-here-s-your/) [Michael Seibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-seibel/) Browse all 2,160 Curious quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Find an issue that's important to you, and be as curious and close to it as possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "DeRay Mckesson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-and-be-as-curious-and-close-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Curious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-and-be-as-curious-and-close-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c0/deray-mckesson-4626_curious_find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-an_1650276.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Find an issue that's important to you, and be as curious and close to it as possible.” — DeRay Mckesson", "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": "DeRay Mckesson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Find an issue that's important to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-and-be-as-curious-and-close-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/find-an-issue-that-s-important-to-you-and-be-as-curious-and-close-to/#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 } } ] } ```