--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's wrong with leading the way? We've…" description: "\"What's wrong with leading the way? We've played that role before, after all. We gave the world the secret ballot... that did so much to raise living st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/geraldine-brooks-1324_ballots_what-s-wrong-with-leading-the-way-we-ve_2213409.jpg" --- # What's wrong with leading the way? We've played that role… ![“What's wrong with leading the way? We've played that role before, after all. We gave the world the secret ballot... that did so much to raise living standards and improve conditions for workers worldwide. We were a leader in extending to women the right to vote. We were barely a nation when we set…” quote by Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/geraldine-brooks-1324_ballots_what-s-wrong-with-leading-the-way-we-ve_2213409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/geraldine-brooks-1324_ballots_what-s-wrong-with-leading-the-way-we-ve_2213409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02a/geraldine-brooks-1324_ballots_what-s-wrong-with-leading-the-way-we-ve_2213409.jpg) > “What's wrong with leading the way? We've played that role before, after all. We gave the world the secret ballot... that did so much to raise living standards and improve conditions for workers worldwide. We were a leader in extending to women the right to vote. We were barely a nation when we set the bar for bravery and sacrifice by common soldiers in foreign wars. We grew up out of racism and misogyny and homophobia to become a mostly tolerant, successful multicultural society. We did these great things because we know we are in it together. It is our core value as Australians.” [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Australia’s achievements stem from collective effort and shared values, highlighting progress in democracy, gender equality, multiculturalism, and sacrifice **In simple terms:** Australia’s success is due to teamwork and shared values Key Takeaway Embrace collective responsibility and unity Themes teamwork national identity progress inclusion history Mood proud reflective optimistic Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - policy discussions - educational curricula - community building - national celebrations Key Concepts civic pride social cohesion multiculturalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure all groups benefit from national progress? - What responsibilities do citizens have to uphold shared values? A Different Perspective Progress can be uneven and may overlook ongoing inequities ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) [Bars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bars/) [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Core](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core/) [Core values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core-values/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Extending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extending/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Homophobia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homophobia/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading/) [Leading the way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-the-way/) [Leading Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-way-3546365/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Misogyny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misogyny/) [Multicultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multicultural/) [Multicultural society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multicultural-society/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Right to vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-to-vote/) [Right Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-vote/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Value Australians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-australians-4910433/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I was always the one leading the way in terms of wanting to do acting, singing and dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-was-always-the-one-leading-the-way-in-terms-of-wanting-to-do-acting-2/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [I think for the most part people are proud of the bicultural foundation New Zealand is built on and the fact that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-key/i-think-for-the-most-part-people-are-proud-of-the-bicultural/) [John Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-key/) > [A 'multicultural society' is a logical and physical impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoshi-kanazawa/a-multicultural-society-is-a-logical-and-physical-impossibility/) [Satoshi Kanazawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoshi-kanazawa/) > [My dream would be a multicultural society, one that is diverse and where every man, woman and child are treated equally. I dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/my-dream-would-be-a-multicultural-society-one-that-is-diverse-and/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I believe all societies, all thriving societies of the future are going to be multicultural societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-believe-all-societies-all-thriving-societies-of-the-future-are/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [If you try to discuss multiculturalism in the UK you're labelled a racist. But here we're still free to talk, and I say multicultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pim-fortuyn/if-you-try-to-discuss-multiculturalism-in-the-uk-you-re-labelled-a/) [Pim Fortuyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pim-fortuyn/) > [Voyager' shows the reality of the multicultural society we live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beltran/voyager-shows-the-reality-of-the-multicultural-society-we-live-in/) [Robert Beltran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-beltran/) > [It's the UK: We have to get beyond that imperialist state. I think that kind of imperialist, hierarchical, elitist state has made it easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-the-uk-we-have-to-get-beyond-that-imperialist-state-i-think-that/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Genocide is not just a murderous madness; it is, more deeply, a politics that promises a utopia beyond politics - one people, one land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/genocide-is-not-just-a-murderous-madness-it-is-more-deeply-a-politics/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [I believe whether it is the United States or Europe, they will all end up as multicultural societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-believe-whether-it-is-the-united-states-or-europe-they-will-all-end/) [Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/) > [We know that a large majority of the Australian society is extremely comfortable with a multicultural society, that we accept that living in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-soutphommasane/we-know-that-a-large-majority-of-the-australian-society-is-extremely/) [Tim Soutphommasane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-soutphommasane/) > [In our multicultural society, it is inevitable that there will be a prime minister of colour at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/in-our-multicultural-society-it-is-inevitable-that-there-will-be-a/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I think it's a huge thing in a multicultural society that people know my name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omid-djalili/i-think-it-s-a-huge-thing-in-a-multicultural-society-that-people-know/) [Omid Djalili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omid-djalili/) > [We are living in a multicultural society. Our role as leaders is to enable grappling with this situation, even when multiculturalism is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/we-are-living-in-a-multicultural-society-our-role-as-leaders-is-to/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [I have been told many times that when I win I make my people proud to be Australian. I am Aboriginal, I am one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-have-been-told-many-times-that-when-i-win-i-make-my-people-proud-to/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) ## More by Geraldine Brooks > [“The word for mother, umm, is the root of the words for “source, nation, mercy, first principle, rich harvest; stupid, illiterate, parasite, weak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-word-for-mother-umm-is-the-root-of-the-words-for-source-nation/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“The lieutenant colonel wondered if the high scores reflected a defect in the newly built shooting range at the women’s academy. To find out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-lieutenant-colonel-wondered-if-the-high-scores-reflected-a-defect/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“No wonder simple men have always had their gods dwell in the high places. For as soon as a man lets his eye drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/no-wonder-simple-men-have-always-had-their-gods-dwell-in-the-high/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [I was really interested in how marriages work, how you can, you know, be in love with somebody and spend many years with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/i-was-really-interested-in-how-marriages-work-how-you-can-you-know-be/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Writing is like bricklaying; you put down one word after another. Sometimes the wall goes up straight and true and sometimes it doesn't and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/writing-is-like-bricklaying-you-put-down-one-word-after-another/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“... So this was how it was to be, now: I would do my best to live in the quick world, but the ghosts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/so-this-was-how-it-was-to-be-now-i-would-do-my-best-to-live-in-the/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“They threw rotten fruit at me and told me next time it would be acid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/they-threw-rotten-fruit-at-me-and-told-me-next-time-it-would-be-acid/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“You," he continued, grabbing my wrist. "All of you, from the safe world, with your air bags and your tamper-proof packaging and your fat-free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/you-he-continued-grabbing-my-wrist-all-of-you-from-the-safe-world/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“This is how an owl must look to a mouse in that last second before the talons sink into the flesh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/this-is-how-an-owl-must-look-to-a-mouse-in-that-last-second-before/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [And so, as generally happens, those who have most give least, and those with less somehow make shrift to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/and-so-as-generally-happens-those-who-have-most-give-least-and-those/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“The author of this text did not write to provoke, but merely to express a truth as he conceives it. Your own theologians have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-author-of-this-text-did-not-write-to-provoke-but-merely-to/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“So, you are happy to be a pigeon?” “Maybe so. But at least a pigeon does no harm. The hawk lives at the expense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/so-you-are-happy-to-be-a-pigeon-maybe-so-but-at-least-a-pigeon-does/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“Many men believe in the saying that educating women is like allowing the nose of the camel into the tent: eventually the beast will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/many-men-believe-in-the-saying-that-educating-women-is-like-allowing/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“No, no,” he said. “She can’t raise it at all. She may only clap. Women must be very careful of their voices. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/no-no-he-said-she-can-t-raise-it-at-all-she-may-only-clap-women-must/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [If a man is to lose his fortune, it is a good thing if he were poor before he acquired it, for poverty requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/if-a-man-is-to-lose-his-fortune-it-is-a-good-thing-if-he-were-poor/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) [Explore all 256 Geraldine Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) ## More Ballots quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [If you don't know, your labor unions and community organizations, there's somebody you can ask to guide you. A lot of people, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/if-you-don-t-know-your-labor-unions-and-community-organizations-there/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [Models: I'm not voting for you for any stupid magazine list! If you were really that Hot you wouldn't have to beg the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/models-i-m-not-voting-for-you-for-any-stupid-magazine-list-if-you/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [I think it's best if there's an amendment that goes on the ballot where the people can weigh in. Every time this issue has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-think-it-s-best-if-there-s-an-amendment-that-goes-on-the-ballot/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [Just as feudalism was an advance over slavery, and capitalism was the next step after feudalism, socialism is the next step after capitalism…...Socialism in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-hall/just-as-feudalism-was-an-advance-over-slavery-and-capitalism-was-the/) [Gus Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-hall/) > [The Family of Man is more than 3 billion strong. It lives in more than 100 nations. Most of its members are not white.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-family-of-man-is-more-than-3-billion-strong-it-lives-in-more-than/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Barack Obama thinks he's universally loved and adored because of that approval rating, which is a lie or a misrepresentation. It's mainly people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-thinks-he-s-universally-loved-and-adored-because-of-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Exxon, Coca-Cola, BHP Billiton and News Corporation have much more say in organising the global agenda than the planet's 5 billion mature-age voters without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-brown/exxon-coca-cola-bhp-billiton-and-news-corporation-have-much-more-say/) [Bob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-brown/) > [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [It’ll be the ballot or it’ll be the bullet. It’ll be liberty or it’ll be death. And if you’re not ready to pay that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-ll-be-the-ballot-or-it-ll-be-the-bullet-it-ll-be-liberty-or-it-ll/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Too many of us dissipate our energy by being 'for all good causes,' attending meetings and passing resolutions, organizing and presenting petitions — all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammon-hennacy/too-many-of-us-dissipate-our-energy-by-being-for-all-good-causes/) [Ammon Hennacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammon-hennacy/) > [To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/to-give-victory-to-the-right-not-bloody-bullets-but-peaceful-ballots/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The establishment Republicans are beginning to say on the record what they had been whispering about in private for months: that Donald Trump at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-mogahed/the-establishment-republicans-are-beginning-to-say-on-the-record-what/) [Dalia Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-mogahed/) [Browse all 274 Ballots quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's wrong with leading the way? We've played that role before, after all. We gave the world the secret ballot... that did so much to raise living standards and improve conditions for workers worldwide. We were a leader in extending to women the right to vote. We were barely a nation when we set the bar for bravery and sacrifice by common soldiers in foreign wars. We grew up out of racism and misogyny and homophobia to become a mostly tolerant, successful multicultural society. We did these great things because we know we are in it together. 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