--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Occupy Wall Street] had an impact on…" description: "\"[Occupy Wall Street] had an impact on consciousness. It was not effective in realizing change.\" — Edward Snowden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/edward-snowden-555_change_occupy-wall-street-had-an-impact-on-cons_408768.jpg" --- # \[Occupy Wall Street\] had an impact on consciousness. It… ![“[Occupy Wall Street] had an impact on consciousness. It was not effective in realizing change.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/edward-snowden-555_change_occupy-wall-street-had-an-impact-on-cons_408768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/edward-snowden-555_change_occupy-wall-street-had-an-impact-on-cons_408768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/edward-snowden-555_change_occupy-wall-street-had-an-impact-on-cons_408768.jpg) > “\[Occupy Wall Street\] had an impact on consciousness. It was not effective in realizing change.” [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The protest raised public consciousness but failed to achieve concrete policy changes **In simple terms:** Raised awareness but lacked lasting impact Key Takeaway Recognize awareness isn’t enough; pursue actionable strategies Themes activism political change social awareness Mood critical reflective Type political social When to use this quote - political campaigning - community organizing - policy advocacy Key Concepts public protest media coverage grassroots organizing Questions to Reflect On - How can movements translate awareness into policy? - What structures hinder protest impact? A Different Perspective Effectiveness limited without clear goals and leadership ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Occupy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupy/) [Occupy wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupy-wall-street/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/) ## Related quotes > [ All those people who went out \[to Occupy Wall Street\] missed work, didn't get paid. Those were individuals who were already feeling the effects… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/all-those-people-who-went-out-to-occupy-wall-street-missed-work-didn/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [As inequality grows, the basic bonds of social fraternity are fraying - as we discussed in regard to Occupy Wall Street. As tensions increase,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-inequality-grows-the-basic-bonds-of-social-fraternity-are-fraying/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I believe strongly that Occupy Wall Street had such limits because the local authorities were able to enforce, basically in our imaginations, an image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-believe-strongly-that-occupy-wall-street-had-such-limits-because/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Occupy Wall Street is a real movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/occupy-wall-street-is-a-real-movement/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [Whatever will happen has to be based on long-term policies and strategies of resistance. We had the Occupy Wall Street movement, but when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/whatever-will-happen-has-to-be-based-on-long-term-policies-and/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [I locate a great deal of the power of Occupy Wall Street in the name itself, 'Occupy Wall Street,' or '#OccupyWallStreet.' It works because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/i-locate-a-great-deal-of-the-power-of-occupy-wall-street-in-the-name/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [“Occupy Wall Street and the Free State Project were ostensibly leaderless organizations that eschewed new power hierarchies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-popper/occupy-wall-street-and-the-free-state-project-were-ostensibly/) [Nathaniel Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-popper/) > [If Occupy Wall Street can see their way to more collaboration with the union movement, then there will be a great deal of political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/if-occupy-wall-street-can-see-their-way-to-more-collaboration-with/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Whether one agrees or disagrees with the tactics of the Occupy Wall Street movement, it's easy to understand the inspiration for its anger as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-alterman/whether-one-agrees-or-disagrees-with-the-tactics-of-the-occupy-wall/) [Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-alterman/) > [Occupy Wall Street was a disorganized movement without a clear focus and power base - essential in any successful revolution - but the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/occupy-wall-street-was-a-disorganized-movement-without-a-clear-focus/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [The rich get richer and the poor get the picture. I think this Occupy Wall Street thing is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baker/the-rich-get-richer-and-the-poor-get-the-picture-i-think-this-occupy/) [Simon Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baker/) > [The Occupy Wall Street project feels like a burning ember that might light the torch of justice and inflame our longing for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-forbes/the-occupy-wall-street-project-feels-like-a-burning-ember-that-might/) [James A. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-forbes/) > [Thank you, Occupy Wall Street. With your vivid example of anticapitalist squalor, I've been able to convince all three of my children to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/thank-you-occupy-wall-street-with-your-vivid-example-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Occupy Wall Street is meant more as a way of life that spreads through contagion, creates as many questions as it answers, aims to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/occupy-wall-street-is-meant-more-as-a-way-of-life-that-spreads/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [To understand Occupy Wall Street, you have to understand artists. Art is freedom - freedom of expression - and its message has resonated through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-m-brant/to-understand-occupy-wall-street-you-have-to-understand-artists-art/) [Peter M. Brant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-m-brant/) ## More by Edward Snowden > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The NSA and Israel wrote Stuxnet together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-and-israel-wrote-stuxnet-together/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [As a general rule, so long as you have any choice at all, you should never route through or peer with the UK under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-general-rule-so-long-as-you-have-any-choice-at-all-you-should/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We need to think about encryption not as this sort of arcane, black art. It's a basic protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-need-to-think-about-encryption-not-as-this-sort-of-arcane-black/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-lot-of-people-in-2008-voted-for-obama-i-did-not-vote-for-him-i/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too often we forget that social and political movements don't happen overnight. They don't bring change immediately - you have to build a critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/too-often-we-forget-that-social-and-political-movements-don-t-happen/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ There was a real choice when \[Barack Obama\] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obama-became-president-it-was-a/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's much easier, I think, to protect communications while they're in transit at least, than it is to enforce legislation in every country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-much-easier-i-think-to-protect-communications-while-they-re-in/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I care more about the country than what happens to me. But we can't allow the law to become a political weapon or agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-care-more-about-the-country-than-what-happens-to-me-but-we-can-t/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Explore all 478 Edward Snowden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## 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 > [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": "[Occupy Wall Street] had an impact on consciousness. 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