--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consider their role models,” Nick said…" description: "\"“Consider their role models,” Nick said. “You can’t change the tide with an oar.”\" — Gary Ponzo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg" --- # Consider their role models,” Nick said. “You can’t change… ![“Consider their role models,” Nick said. “You can’t change the tide with an oar.” quote by Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg) > ““Consider their role models,” Nick said. “You can’t change the tide with an oar.”” [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Role models influence us, but small actions cannot shift large forces. **In simple terms:** Role models matter, but change requires collective effort. Key Takeaway Seek systemic change beyond individual influence. Themes leadership influence systems Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - education reform - mentoring Key Concepts sociology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What larger systems can you influence? - How can you amplify your impact? A Different Perspective Individual actions can spark larger movements if coordinated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change Tide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-tide-5071667/) [Consider Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-role-2471598/) [Nick Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nick-said-755746/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Tide Oar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tide-oar-5071666/) ## Related quotes > [“ For every ebb there’s a flow; for every flow there’s an ebb. The full moon must wane just as the new moon must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/for-every-ebb-there-s-a-flow-for-every-flow-there-s-an-ebb-the-full/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I don't feel that I'm a role model. I'm just me. If people want to look up to me then that's their business. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/i-don-t-feel-that-i-m-a-role-model-i-m-just-me-if-people-want-to-look/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) > [Earlier, I used to take up any role that came my way. But now I feel that I should take time and consider the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/earlier-i-used-to-take-up-any-role-that-came-my-way-but-now-i-feel/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [I don't really consider myself a celebrity. I consider myself more of a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-leslie/i-don-t-really-consider-myself-a-celebrity-i-consider-myself-more-of/) [Lisa Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-leslie/) > [I definitely consider myself a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-truth/i-definitely-consider-myself-a-role-model/) [R-Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-truth/) > [I would never consider myself a role model in the wide sense of the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-would-never-consider-myself-a-role-model-in-the-wide-sense-of-the/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [“ 'Can't really say?' Nick said, and heard, as he sometimes did, his own father's note of evasive sympathy. It was how his family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hollinghurst/can-t-really-say-nick-said-and-heard-as-he-sometimes-did-his-own/) [Alan Hollinghurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hollinghurst/) > [“Nick,” he said. “I think I’m going to need you to bite my arm.” “I think I’m going to need you to run that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/nick-he-said-i-think-i-m-going-to-need-you-to-bite-my-arm-i-think-i-m/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [“Isn't love any fun? Marjorie said. "No," Nick said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/isn-t-love-any-fun-marjorie-said-no-nick-said/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“It was Gavin's turn to look perplexed. "You're from Tennessee?" "Of course she's from Tennessee," Nick said."Why do you think we always make fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/it-was-gavin-s-turn-to-look-perplexed-you-re-from-tennessee-of-course/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“You know what people who go to nude beaches look like?" "Tell me." "People who shouldn't go to nude beaches." "Is Chili Palmer joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/you-know-what-people-who-go-to-nude-beaches-look-like-tell-me-people/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“We weren't always here for her," Ford said quietly. "So we're a little overprotective. I won't apologize for that. But she's everything to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/we-weren-t-always-here-for-her-ford-said-quietly-so-we-re-a-little/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [We weren't going anywhere," Nick said with a smile. He was trying to sound charming, but instead wound up sounding heavily sedated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/we-weren-t-going-anywhere-nick-said-with-a-smile-he-was-trying-to/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [I scrambled to the top of the precipice where Nick was waiting. "That was fun," I said. "You bet it was," said Nick. "Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-scrambled-to-the-top-of-the-precipice-where-nick-was-waiting-that/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I lay there in the bath not thinking, not doing anything. After a few seconds, I heard her open the front door, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-lay-there-in-the-bath-not-thinking-not-doing-anything-after-a-few/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) ## More by Gary Ponzo > [“A vision flashed across Nick’s mind. It was the image of a lipstick kiss his wife left for him on the mirror that morning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/a-vision-flashed-across-nick-s-mind-it-was-the-image-of-a-lipstick/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) > [“Thomas,” the boss said. “How’s your father doing?” “He’s good, Sal.” Always the family questions first. That was Sal Demenci’s style. He could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/thomas-the-boss-said-how-s-your-father-doing-he-s-good-sal-always-the/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) > [“What happened to the perp?” “Perp?” “The piece of crap who tried to kill my wife. Where is he now?” There was a pause,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/what-happened-to-the-perp-perp-the-piece-of-crap-who-tried-to-kill-my/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) > [“Matt was the antidote to fear and trepidation. It was as if he’d become so acquainted with death that he could sit in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/matt-was-the-antidote-to-fear-and-trepidation-it-was-as-if-he-d/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) > [“Sometimes even common sense needs to come from a different voice before you recognize it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/sometimes-even-common-sense-needs-to-come-from-a-different-voice/) [Gary Ponzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) [Explore all 6 Gary Ponzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/) ## More River quotes > [The least unhappy persons do, in so fickle and so tempestuous a sea as this world, meet with many more either cross winds or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/the-least-unhappy-persons-do-in-so-fickle-and-so-tempestuous-a-sea-as/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [Somehow the river is louder when you cover your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/somehow-the-river-is-louder-when-you-cover-your-ears/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [“The river itself is not a hundred yards across, and pa and Vernon and Vardaman and Dewey Dell are the only things in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-river-itself-is-not-a-hundred-yards-across-and-pa-and-vernon-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [One of the unique things is that whether we were out at sea or in the middle of the water tank, a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/one-of-the-unique-things-is-that-whether-we-were-out-at-sea-or-in-the/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [“It’s a big ocean crossed by busy ships. I went slowly, observing much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/it-s-a-big-ocean-crossed-by-busy-ships-i-went-slowly-observing-much/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Life is like the ocean. It can be calm and still or rough and rigid but in the end, it is always beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-the-ocean-it-can-be-calm-and-still-or-rough-and-rigid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always like to look for adventure when I go away. I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [I've never been far from the river. I'm sort of like a Thames-nymph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-ve-never-been-far-from-the-river-i-m-sort-of-like-a-thames-nymph/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [“Mungu akikubariki kipaji chako watu watasema ni laana. Maisha yako ni sawa na mto. Unakoelekea ni baharini. Lakini sasa umefika kwenye mlango wa bahari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-akikubariki-kipaji-chako-watu-watasema-ni-laana-maisha-yako-ni/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/ships-at-a-distance-have-every-man-s-wish-on-board-for-some-they-come/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [The tides which flow and lapse in the Bristol Channel are often distained by the freshets of many streams falling through wooded coombes below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/the-tides-which-flow-and-lapse-in-the-bristol-channel-are-often/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [In the road ships must ride in 30, 40, or 50 fathom water, not above half a mile from the shore at farthest: and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dampier/in-the-road-ships-must-ride-in-30-40-or-50-fathom-water-not-above/) [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) > [I finished 'Hell or High Water' and started writing 'Wind River' literally the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-finished-hell-or-high-water-and-started-writing-wind-river/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) [Browse all 3,638 River quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Consider their role models,” Nick said. “You can’t change the tide with an oar.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Ponzo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you-can-t-change-the-tide-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "River" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you-can-t-change-the-tide-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a84/gary-ponzo-54678_role-models_consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you_2239591.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Consider their role models,” Nick said. “You can’t change the tide with an oar.” — Gary Ponzo", "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": "Gary Ponzo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ponzo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Consider their role models,” Nick said....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you-can-t-change-the-tide-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ponzo/consider-their-role-models-nick-said-you-can-t-change-the-tide-with/#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 } } ] } ```