--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Social change rarely comes about through…" description: "\"Social change rarely comes about through the efforts of the disenfranchised. The middle class creates social revolutions.\" — Faye Wattleton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/faye-wattleton-20860_change_social-change-rarely-comes-about-through_815597.png" --- # Social change rarely comes about through the efforts of… ![“Social change rarely comes about through the efforts of the disenfranchised. The middle class creates social revolutions.” quote by Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/faye-wattleton-20860_change_social-change-rarely-comes-about-through_815597.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/faye-wattleton-20860_change_social-change-rarely-comes-about-through_815597.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/faye-wattleton-20860_change_social-change-rarely-comes-about-through_815597.png) > “Social change rarely comes about through the efforts of the disenfranchised. The middle class creates social revolutions.” [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that revolutions are typically driven by the middle class rather than the most oppressed groups. **In simple terms:** Middle class fuels social revolutions. Key Takeaway Engage the middle class for change. Themes social change class dynamics political movements Mood critical analytical Type theoretical sociopolitical When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - community organizing Key Concepts revolutionary theory social stratification Questions to Reflect On - How can marginalized groups amplify their impact? - What role does the middle class play in sustaining change? A Different Perspective Overlooks grassroots power of disenfranchised. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutions/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-change/) [Social revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-revolution/) ## Related quotes > [Don't depend on governments or corporations to fix problems. Social revolutions are led by passionate individuals and that's what makes the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/don-t-depend-on-governments-or-corporations-to-fix-problems-social/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Social revolutions and group revolutions are good, and we need that, but we also need personal revolution - revolution within ourselves that change who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/social-revolutions-and-group-revolutions-are-good-and-we-need-that/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [Social revolutions are never simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/social-revolutions-are-never-simple/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [Revolution is but thought carried into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/revolution-is-but-thought-carried-into-action/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [There can be no political revolution, no social revolution, no economic revolution. The only revolution is that of the spirit; it is individual. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/there-can-be-no-political-revolution-no-social-revolution-no-economic/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Theater has an incredible capacity to move people to social change, to address issues, to inspire social revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/theater-has-an-incredible-capacity-to-move-people-to-social-change-to/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“Revolutions are infinite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/revolutions-are-infinite/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [The 'Grace of Kings' begins as a very dark, complicated world filled with injustices - among them the oppressed position of women - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/the-grace-of-kings-begins-as-a-very-dark-complicated-world-filled/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [You yourself create all your misery, hour after hour, day after day. You think the goal justifies the means, even the vile means. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/you-yourself-create-all-your-misery-hour-after-hour-day-after-day-you/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [The social revolution...cannot draw its poetry from the past, but only from the future. It cannot begin with itself before it has stripped itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-social-revolution-cannot-draw-its-poetry-from-the-past-but-only/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [We tried many times before to speed on the social revolution in Spain; attempted to stir up the feelings of the people and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federica-montseny/we-tried-many-times-before-to-speed-on-the-social-revolution-in-spain/) [Federica Montseny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federica-montseny/) > [I began to realize that, in spite of great achievements in wealth and military prowess, the great powers of Europe have not yet succeeded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-yat-sen/i-began-to-realize-that-in-spite-of-great-achievements-in-wealth-and/) [Sun Yat-sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-yat-sen/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There are but three ways for the populace to escape its wretched lot. The first two are by the routes of the wine-shop or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/there-are-but-three-ways-for-the-populace-to-escape-its-wretched-lot/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) ## More by Faye Wattleton > [My mother taught me a lot of things, but they had big presuppositions built in - like her expectation that I'd be a missionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/my-mother-taught-me-a-lot-of-things-but-they-had-big-presuppositions/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [One of the sad commentaries on the way women are viewed in our society is that we have to fit one category. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/one-of-the-sad-commentaries-on-the-way-women-are-viewed-in-our/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [I think we have deluded ourselves into believing that people don't know that abortion is killing. So any pretense that abortion is not killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/i-think-we-have-deluded-ourselves-into-believing-that-people-don-t/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [My mother was from Mississippi, or is from 'Mississippi;' my father was from Alabama. He speaks about conditions in Mississippi and Alabama. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/my-mother-was-from-mississippi-or-is-from-mississippi-my-father-was/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [Until the day arrives when all women decide that our rights are not negotiable, our future choices will not be secure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/until-the-day-arrives-when-all-women-decide-that-our-rights-are-not/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [As we celebrate the 100th birthday of Margaret Sanger, our outrageous and our courageous leader, we will probably find a number of areas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/as-we-celebrate-the-100th-birthday-of-margaret-sanger-our-outrageous/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/the-only-safe-ship-in-a-storm-is-leadership/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [We've consistently seen, since the late 1990s, that more than half of women believe that abortion should be severely restricted or abolished altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/we-ve-consistently-seen-since-the-late-1990s-that-more-than-half-of/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [The influence of one's parents is powerful and permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/the-influence-of-one-s-parents-is-powerful-and-permanent/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [I was raised in a very sheltered, narrow environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/i-was-raised-in-a-very-sheltered-narrow-environment/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [A woman who places a high priority on performance and excellence is seen as imperial. A man is seen as demanding and tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/a-woman-who-places-a-high-priority-on-performance-and-excellence-is/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > ['What can your kids teach you?' Well, I believe something different about kids. We don't own them, they have their own knowledge. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/what-can-your-kids-teach-you-well-i-believe-something-different-about/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [Reproductive freedom is critical to a whole range of issues. If we can't take charge of this most personal aspect of our lives, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/reproductive-freedom-is-critical-to-a-whole-range-of-issues-if-we-can/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [I have never believed in the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/i-have-never-believed-in-the-impossible/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) > [This is not a country that has had a tremendous sympathy for poor people, so I think that the notion that somehow we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-wattleton/this-is-not-a-country-that-has-had-a-tremendous-sympathy-for-poor/) [Faye Wattleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) [Explore all 30 Faye Wattleton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-wattleton/) ## 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": "Social change rarely comes about through the efforts of the disenfranchised. 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