--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our country frequently seems more divided…" description: "\"Our country frequently seems more divided than ever on how to approach everything from climate change to the economy. I think the path to understanding..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg" --- # Our country frequently seems more divided than ever on how… ![“Our country frequently seems more divided than ever on how to approach everything from climate change to the economy. I think the path to understanding begins with honest, open conversations.” quote by Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg) > “Our country frequently seems more divided than ever on how to approach everything from climate change to the economy. I think the path to understanding begins with honest, open conversations.” [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. National polarization hampers problem solving; open dialogue is essential for collective progress. **In simple terms:** Honest talks bridge divides. Key Takeaway Foster transparent conversations on contentious issues. Themes politics economy climate communication Mood concerned hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - town hall meetings - community workshops - policy forums Key Concepts polarization dialogue collaboration Questions to Reflect On - What topics are hardest to discuss openly? - How can safe spaces be created? A Different Perspective People may avoid uncomfortable topics, limiting depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Economy Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy-think-494226/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Frequently Divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frequently-divided-4931499/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Open Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-conversations-3106333/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Begins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-begins-1268241/) ## Related quotes > [Change begins with understanding and understanding begins by identifying oneself with another person: in a word, empathy. The arts enable us to put ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eyre/change-begins-with-understanding-and-understanding-begins-by/) [Richard Eyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eyre/) > [Every path to a new understanding begins in confusion...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/every-path-to-a-new-understanding-begins-in-confusion/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [All understanding begins in wonder!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-understanding-begins-in-wonder/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [All understanding begins with our not accepting the world as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/all-understanding-begins-with-our-not-accepting-the-world-as-it/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I think the advice, regardless of gender, is always be open to conversations with people who do things differently than you do. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-simone-noveck/i-think-the-advice-regardless-of-gender-is-always-be-open-to/) [Beth Simone Noveck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-simone-noveck/) > [What has helped me the most to navigate the business side of the modeling world was having open conversations with colleagues. When I first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-bidot/what-has-helped-me-the-most-to-navigate-the-business-side-of-the/) [Denise Bidot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-bidot/) > [We spend so much time bantering about the words when the real open conversations might very well be our actions. I worry about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/we-spend-so-much-time-bantering-about-the-words-when-the-real-open/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [As far as open conversations with random people, no I don't really enjoy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/as-far-as-open-conversations-with-random-people-no-i-don-t-really/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [I have always had open conversations with Shahid. He would discuss what he felt as a performer, and I would talk to him about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishaan-khatter/i-have-always-had-open-conversations-with-shahid-he-would-discuss/) [Ishaan Khatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishaan-khatter/) > [No, I've always been impressed with the tremendous resilience of the American economy. I think over the years, over the decades, it's demonstrated this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/no-i-ve-always-been-impressed-with-the-tremendous-resilience-of-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Just as the PC bled back into industrial economy, I think the Internet is going to bleed back into our overall economy and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/just-as-the-pc-bled-back-into-industrial-economy-i-think-the-internet/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [Our economy, I think, is still -- the fundamentals of our economy are strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/our-economy-i-think-is-still-the-fundamentals-of-our-economy-are/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [We can't wait for Washington. Business leaders are going to have to galvanize their own constituencies and do everything they can to demonstrate confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-can-t-wait-for-washington-business-leaders-are-going-to-have-to/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [There's probably a tendency to view power... to be either based on size or the size and power of your economy. I think New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacinda-ardern/there-s-probably-a-tendency-to-view-power-to-be-either-based-on-size/) [Jacinda Ardern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacinda-ardern/) > [Massive inequality, we have learned, isn't the best way to run an economy after all. And when you think about it, it's also profoundly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/massive-inequality-we-have-learned-isn-t-the-best-way-to-run-an/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) ## More by Doug McMillon > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [Customers want a broad assortment, especially with e-commerce. If you pull up your mobile app to look for something at Walmart, we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/customers-want-a-broad-assortment-especially-with-e-commerce-if-you/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [Purchasing items made in the U.S. for our stores here or Canadian goods for our stores in Canada makes good business sense because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/purchasing-items-made-in-the-u-s-for-our-stores-here-or-canadian/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [We simply won't be here if we don't take care of the very things that allow us to exist: our associates, customers, suppliers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-simply-won-t-be-here-if-we-don-t-take-care-of-the-very-things-that/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [We want to be able to do business in China. I know a lot of American businesses and farmers want to as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-want-to-be-able-to-do-business-in-china-i-know-a-lot-of-american/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can compare the retail business to basketball. You have to have a plan, you have to hustle, you have to rely on each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/you-can-compare-the-retail-business-to-basketball-you-have-to-have-a/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [Fuel prices are really a pressure point, and they have had an impact on food and other things as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/fuel-prices-are-really-a-pressure-point-and-they-have-had-an-impact/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [We want everyone at Walmart to feel comfortable coming to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-want-everyone-at-walmart-to-feel-comfortable-coming-to-work/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [Like people, when companies work to foster a culture of collaboration, communication becomes second nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/like-people-when-companies-work-to-foster-a-culture-of-collaboration/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [We will continue to help communities prepare for - and recover from - the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-will-continue-to-help-communities-prepare-for-and-recover-from-the/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [We're not proud, we're not egotistical. If someone is doing something better than we are, let's copy and paste when we should and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-re-not-proud-we-re-not-egotistical-if-someone-is-doing-something/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [Getting the job you want always starts with excelling at the one you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/getting-the-job-you-want-always-starts-with-excelling-at-the-one-you/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [The world is a better place with Walmart in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/the-world-is-a-better-place-with-walmart-in-it/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [One of the realities of fresh and perishable food is if you don't sell it, you throw it away or give it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/one-of-the-realities-of-fresh-and-perishable-food-is-if-you-don-t/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [The future is not going to be driven exclusively by technology, but by people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/the-future-is-not-going-to-be-driven-exclusively-by-technology-but-by/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) [Explore all 100 Doug McMillon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) ## 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": "Our country frequently seems more divided than ever on how to approach everything from climate change to the economy. I think the path to understanding begins with honest, open conversations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Doug McMillon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/our-country-frequently-seems-more-divided-than-ever-on-how-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/our-country-frequently-seems-more-divided-than-ever-on-how-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/doug-mcmillon-6056_change_our-country-frequently-seems-more-divide_3027772.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our country frequently seems more divided than ever on how to approach everything from climate change to the…” — Doug McMillon", "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": "Doug McMillon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our country frequently seems more divided...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/our-country-frequently-seems-more-divided-than-ever-on-how-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/our-country-frequently-seems-more-divided-than-ever-on-how-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 } } ] } ```