--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I went to the Association [ National…" description: "\"When I went to the Association [ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] I learned a few things by observation. One of the things t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg" --- # When I went to the Association \[ National Association for… ![“When I went to the Association [ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] I learned a few things by observation. One of the things that used to strike me was [Walter White] need to impress people, even just people who came into the office.” quote by Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg) > “When I went to the Association \[ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People\] I learned a few things by observation. One of the things that used to strike me was \[Walter White\] need to impress people, even just people who came into the office.” [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observation of organizational dynamics reveals a desire to impress, even among those who are merely present, highlighting social validation motives. **In simple terms:** People seek validation even from casual observers. Key Takeaway Cultivate intrinsic motivation over external approval. Themes validation observation social dynamics Mood reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workplace interactions - leadership training - networking events Key Concepts impression management organizational behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do you feel the need to impress? - How can you focus on purpose rather than perception? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on approval can hinder authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advancement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [But I make the observation that no one of us would do things exactly alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dinkins/but-i-make-the-observation-that-no-one-of-us-would-do-things-exactly/) [David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dinkins/) > [A lot of my writing is basically about observation, and things that I've seen, either through personal experiences or the experiences of people around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/a-lot-of-my-writing-is-basically-about-observation-and-things-that-i/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [ \[Walter White\] had keep \[people\] waiting while you got the impression that he was terribly busy with calls to Washington. I've seen such exhibitions… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/walter-white-had-keep-people-waiting-while-you-got-the-impression/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ One of the particular things that impressed me was one visitor \[of NAACP\] - I think it was - it wasn't the Prime Minister… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/one-of-the-particular-things-that-impressed-me-was-one-visitor-of/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ \[Walter White\] was also one of the best lobbyist of the period. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/walter-white-was-also-one-of-the-best-lobbyist-of-the-period/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ I think that Walter's \[White\] whole career is indicative of a large degree of egocentricity. Perhaps to be generous, you would have to say… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-think-that-walter-s-white-whole-career-is-indicative-of-a-large/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [We don't begin to know what freedom is until we come to a place in our lives where we have no need to impress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/we-don-t-begin-to-know-what-freedom-is-until-we-come-to-a-place-in/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [I don't need to impress children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ion-tiriac/i-don-t-need-to-impress-children/) [Ion Tiriac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ion-tiriac/) > [The people I need to impress, like I said, are the manager, the coaching staff and ultimately my team-mates. If I have their trust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsdale/the-people-i-need-to-impress-like-i-said-are-the-manager-the-coaching/) [Aaron Ramsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsdale/) > [You don't need to impress me! Being on yourself is enough!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-vinzed/you-don-t-need-to-impress-me-being-on-yourself-is-enough/) Mc Vinzed > [The constant need to impress is a need for approval, if you are humble in your own ability; you do not need gratification. Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/the-constant-need-to-impress-is-a-need-for-approval-if-you-are-humble/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [The need to impress others causes half the world's woes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-need-to-impress-others-causes-half-the-world-s-woes/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [Be yourself. There is no need to impress others by pretending to be who you are NOT but STRIVE to be a better person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/be-yourself-there-is-no-need-to-impress-others-by-pretending-to-be/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [You are not free until you have no need to impress anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-are-not-free-until-you-have-no-need-to-impress-anybody/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [You must have someone who...You dont need to impress. You can rely on whether you need it or not. Are fun but serious too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-have-someone-who-you-dont-need-to-impress-you-can-rely-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ella Baker > [In order to see where we are going, we not only must remember where we have been, but we must understand where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/in-order-to-see-where-we-are-going-we-not-only-must-remember-where-we/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [The major job was getting people to understand that they had something within their power that they could use, and it could only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/the-major-job-was-getting-people-to-understand-that-they-had/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [After the '57 initial meeting - I was up this way working, not as a staff person - there became the need for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/after-the-57-initial-meeting-i-was-up-this-way-working-not-as-a-staff/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [My theory is, strong people don't need strong leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/my-theory-is-strong-people-don-t-need-strong-leaders/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Oppressed people, whatever their level of formal education, have the ability to understand and interpret the world around them, to see the world for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/oppressed-people-whatever-their-level-of-formal-education-have-the/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I went to what is known as, and was at that time, too, Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact, because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-went-to-what-is-known-as-and-was-at-that-time-too-shaw-university/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [Strong people don't need strong leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/strong-people-don-t-need-strong-leaders/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [His name was Michael R. Ross. I've never known what the "R" was for. He died, however, before I was 7. But he and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/his-name-was-michael-r-ross-i-ve-never-known-what-the-r-was-for-he/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I guess the best way to describe that would be to connect with the fact that I came out of college just before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-guess-the-best-way-to-describe-that-would-be-to-connect-with-the/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I had been friendly with people who were in the Communist party and all the rest of the Left forces, which were oriented in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-had-been-friendly-with-people-who-were-in-the-communist-party-and/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ I didn't have any close relationship with him because, although \[William Edward Burghardt\] DuBois may not have been as egocentric - I don't know… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-didn-t-have-any-close-relationship-with-him-because-although/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [ \[Walter White\] was also one of the best lobbyist of the period. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/walter-white-was-also-one-of-the-best-lobbyist-of-the-period/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I think, to be honest, sort of emanated from the initial work of somebody else instead of SCLC. If you take Albany; I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-think-to-be-honest-sort-of-emanated-from-the-initial-work-of/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/we-who-believe-in-freedom-cannot-rest-until-it-comes/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [I didn't break the rules, but I challenged the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-didn-t-break-the-rules-but-i-challenged-the-rules/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) [Explore all 62 Ella Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) ## More Advancement quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [They either attach themselves to God's will, which results in their continuous progress, improvement and advancement, or they oppose God's will, are justly subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/they-either-attach-themselves-to-god-s-will-which-results-in-their/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We have won the time lottery of the last 4 billion years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/we-have-won-the-time-lottery-of-the-last-4-billion-years/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“Creativity is key to productivity and prosperity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/creativity-is-key-to-productivity-and-prosperity/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [No one can stop the advancement of a country wheretalent is recognized properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-one-can-stop-the-advancement-of-a-country-wheretalent-is/) Mak\_786 > [Each restorational advancement of the Army of the Lord has established denominational forts that are given responsibility to maintain the purity and power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hamon/each-restorational-advancement-of-the-army-of-the-lord-has/) [Bill Hamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hamon/) > [Setting is preliminary to brighter rising; decay is a process of advancement; death is the condition of higher and more fruitful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/setting-is-preliminary-to-brighter-rising-decay-is-a-process-of/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/certainly-none-of-us-enjoy-going-through-struggles-but-you-have-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Always work towards a dream or you'll always dream of working elsewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/always-work-towards-a-dream-or-you-ll-always-dream-of-working/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. We have all known individuals whose magnanimity was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/those-who-are-successfully-to-lead-their-fellow-men-should-have-once/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Genetic engineering is a result of science advancement, so I don't think that in itself is bad. If used wisely, genetics can be beneficial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/genetic-engineering-is-a-result-of-science-advancement-so-i-don-t/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [ZIPPING THROUGH DIMENSIONS WITH INTENTIONS OF ADVANCEMENT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeileon/zipping-through-dimensions-with-intentions-of-advancement/) [AEILEON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeileon/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Browse all 423 Advancement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I went to the Association [ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] I learned a few things by observation. One of the things that used to strike me was [Walter White] need to impress people, even just people who came into the office.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ella Baker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/when-i-went-to-the-association-national-association-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advancement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/when-i-went-to-the-association-national-association-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/ella-baker-10989_advancement_when-i-went-to-the-association-national_1555284.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I went to the Association [ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] I learned a few…” — Ella Baker", "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": "Ella Baker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I went to the Association...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/when-i-went-to-the-association-national-association-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/when-i-went-to-the-association-national-association-for-the/#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 } } ] } ```