--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can be the one to take the first…" description: "\"We can be the one to take the first courageous step toward the other and to do something or to try to do something other than rejection or attack. We c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/elizabeth-lesser-1683_courage_we-can-be-the-one-to-take-the-first-cour_1822258.png" --- # We can be the one to take the first courageous step toward… ![“We can be the one to take the first courageous step toward the other and to do something or to try to do something other than rejection or attack. We can do this with our siblings and our mates and our friends and our colleagues. We can do this with the disconnection and the discord all around us.” quote by Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/elizabeth-lesser-1683_courage_we-can-be-the-one-to-take-the-first-cour_1822258.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/elizabeth-lesser-1683_courage_we-can-be-the-one-to-take-the-first-cour_1822258.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/elizabeth-lesser-1683_courage_we-can-be-the-one-to-take-the-first-cour_1822258.png) > “We can be the one to take the first courageous step toward the other and to do something or to try to do something other than rejection or attack. We can do this with our siblings and our mates and our friends and our colleagues. We can do this with the disconnection and the discord all around us.” [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages proactive, compassionate action to counter hostility, fostering unity with others despite surrounding discord. **In simple terms:** Take brave, kind steps to unite people. Key Takeaway Act with courage and empathy. Themes compassion unity courage social harmony Mood hopeful determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team building - community outreach - family mediation - workplace collaboration Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution empathy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you model courage in a tense situation? - What small act can you start to bridge a divide? A Different Perspective May be difficult when fear or mistrust dominates. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colleagues Disconnection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues-disconnection-2203126/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Courageous Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous-step-1160960/) [Disconnection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disconnection/) [Friends Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-colleagues-247433/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Sibling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sibling/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [If you are courageous enough to be still, you are a step closer to becoming empowered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romany-malco/if-you-are-courageous-enough-to-be-still-you-are-a-step-closer-to/) [Romany Malco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romany-malco/) > [What is courage? It is the ability to be strong in trust, in conviction, in obedience. To be courageous is to step out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/what-is-courage-it-is-the-ability-to-be-strong-in-trust-in-conviction/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Many of our fears are tissuepaper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-francis/many-of-our-fears-are-tissuepaper-thin-and-a-single-courageous-step/) [Brendan Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-francis/) > [Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/healing-takes-time-and-asking-for-help-is-a-courageous-step/) [Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/) > [“Go above and beyond for yourself! You do it for family, friends, and colleagues, but don’t forget about YOU. It’s important to include yourself……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/go-above-and-beyond-for-yourself-you-do-it-for-family-friends-and/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [I'm inspired by many of my friends, colleagues, and the extraordinary people I've been fortunate enough to meet along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-m-inspired-by-many-of-my-friends-colleagues-and-the-extraordinary/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [Criminal justice, as it pertains to the Goldmans and Morgan Stanleys of the world, is not adversarial combat, with cops and crooks duking it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/criminal-justice-as-it-pertains-to-the-goldmans-and-morgan-stanleys/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [If you can't be honest with your friends and colleagues and loved ones, then what is life all about?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/if-you-can-t-be-honest-with-your-friends-and-colleagues-and-loved/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Since Michael died I think I've worked constantly. Friends and colleagues are very sustaining. They're the people who get you through it... It's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/since-michael-died-i-think-i-ve-worked-constantly-friends-and/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I have some friends, colleagues here at the Karolinska Institute and even in the United States and many other countries too, because we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennart-nilsson/i-have-some-friends-colleagues-here-at-the-karolinska-institute-and/) [Lennart Nilsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennart-nilsson/) > [“Social capital isn’t manifest only in someone connecting you to a friend or passing a résumé on to an old boss. It is also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/social-capital-isn-t-manifest-only-in-someone-connecting-you-to-a/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [So as you are beginning your day anchor yourself in the truth. Know that all is well. Extend this to your friends, colleagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/so-as-you-are-beginning-your-day-anchor-yourself-in-the-truth-know/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [“As I reflect on all my friends and colleagues in my life on this special occasion... Mother is only half the word that immediately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-boyer/as-i-reflect-on-all-my-friends-and-colleagues-in-my-life-on-this/) [Mark W Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer/) > [I am blessed to count among my friends and colleagues people who are very thoughtful and who deeply care about our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/i-am-blessed-to-count-among-my-friends-and-colleagues-people-who-are/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) > [I was convinced I'd hate Twitter - but I've come to like it very much. I use it mostly to keep in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-was-convinced-i-d-hate-twitter-but-i-ve-come-to-like-it-very-much-i/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) ## More by Elizabeth Lesser > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“logotherapy,” which, in a nutshell, is about searching for the meaning packed in one’s baggage, something”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/logotherapy-which-in-a-nutshell-is-about-searching-for-the-meaning/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“He was training people to become “sacred warriors”—not so that they could do battle with others but so that they could develop the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/he-was-training-people-to-become-sacred-warriors-not-so-that-they/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“Rumi tells us that moment we accept what troubles we’ve been given, the door will open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/rumi-tells-us-that-moment-we-accept-what-troubles-we-ve-been-given/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [If I pull from places of faith, joy and gratitude, then I have the wind of creativity behind me. And, my work in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/if-i-pull-from-places-of-faith-joy-and-gratitude-then-i-have-the-wind/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [I think as women and men become more conscious, the terms "woman/man" begin to lose meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/i-think-as-women-and-men-become-more-conscious-the-terms-woman-man/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [I actually don't think we're more divided than we were. I think it's more evident. It's more evident because of the internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/i-actually-don-t-think-we-re-more-divided-than-we-were-i-think-it-s/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [We think that maybe feminism isn't appropriate anymore, since Western women have really made enormous strides. But check out the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/we-think-that-maybe-feminism-isn-t-appropriate-anymore-since-western/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [Life is like a school; one can learn, one can graduate, one can skip a grade or stay behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/life-is-like-a-school-one-can-learn-one-can-graduate-one-can-skip-a/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [We must pay attention to the voice that calls us out of the safety zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/we-must-pay-attention-to-the-voice-that-calls-us-out-of-the-safety/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When we descend all the way down to the bottom of loss, and dwell patiently, with an open heart, in the darkness and pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/when-we-descend-all-the-way-down-to-the-bottom-of-loss-and-dwell/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [The great loneliness- like the loneliness a caterpillar endures when she wraps herself in a silky shroud and begins the long transformation from chrysalis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/the-great-loneliness-like-the-loneliness-a-caterpillar-endures-when/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“I accept now that the point of life is not to reach perfection but to befriend the fact that human beings are works in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/i-accept-now-that-the-point-of-life-is-not-to-reach-perfection-but-to/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When women hear each other's stories, told from the heart, it gives us inspiration to keep on going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/when-women-hear-each-other-s-stories-told-from-the-heart-it-gives-us/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/patience-is-a-hard-discipline-it-is-not-just-waiting-until-something/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) [Explore all 216 Elizabeth Lesser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can be the one to take the first courageous step toward the other and to do something or to try to do something other than rejection or attack. 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