---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But if republicans are to prevail, if the…"
description: "\"But if republicans are to prevail, if the peace process is to be successfully concluded and Irish sovereignty and re-unification secured, then we have ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png"
---

#  But if republicans are to prevail, if the peace process is…

![“But if republicans are to prevail, if the peace process is to be successfully concluded and Irish sovereignty and re-unification secured, then we have to set the agenda - no-one else is going to do that.” quote by Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png)

> “But if republicans are to prevail, if the peace process is to be successfully concluded and Irish sovereignty and re-unification secured, then we have to set the agenda - no-one else is going to do that.”

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Achieving peace and unity requires proactive agenda setting by those who want it.

**In simple terms:** Set the agenda to secure peace and unity.

Key Takeaway

Take initiative to shape outcomes.

Themes

politics peace nationalism leadership

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

political motivational

When to use this quote

- peace negotiations
- community organizing
- policy advocacy

Key Concepts

self-determination conflict resolution strategic planning

Questions to Reflect On

- How can inclusive dialogue be fostered?
- What obstacles might hinder agenda setting?

A Different Perspective

Success depends on broad support and realistic timelines.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Irish Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish-sovereignty-5330718/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-process/) [Prevail Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevail-peace-5330720/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Republicans Prevail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans-prevail-5330719/) [Set Agenda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-agenda-609983/) [Sovereignty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereignty/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/)

## Related quotes

> [This president's committed to taking steps to move the Middle East peace process forward, to bringing the two parties to the table to negotiate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/this-president-s-committed-to-taking-steps-to-move-the-middle-east/)

[Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/)

> [Sinn Fein has productively taken the example of South Africa and, as we develop the peace process, we continue to use examples from South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/sinn-fein-has-productively-taken-the-example-of-south-africa-and-as/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [I think in some ways we have allowed other people to set the agenda. Other people to define who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-scott/i-think-in-some-ways-we-have-allowed-other-people-to-set-the-agenda/)

[Lee Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-scott/)

> [A leader must not let critics set the agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/a-leader-must-not-let-critics-set-the-agenda/)

[Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/)

> [In the absence of an engaged, diplomatically energized America, others will set the agenda, shape the rules and dominate international institutions - and probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/in-the-absence-of-an-engaged-diplomatically-energized-america-others/)

[Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/)

> [I think there needs to be a meeting to set an agenda for more meetings about meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/i-think-there-needs-to-be-a-meeting-to-set-an-agenda-for-more/)

[Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/)

> [The laws of physics are not about to change. Set your agenda by what’s happening in the atmosphere, not by what is happening in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mckitrick/the-laws-of-physics-are-not-about-to-change-set-your-agenda-by-what-s/)

[Ross McKitrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mckitrick/)

> [We have to set our own agenda, we have to set our own standards, we have to be very strong about what we want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-deshannon/we-have-to-set-our-own-agenda-we-have-to-set-our-own-standards-we/)

[Jackie DeShannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-deshannon/)

> [It should be clear to everyone what happens when the populists can set the agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/it-should-be-clear-to-everyone-what-happens-when-the-populists-can/)

[Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/)

> [You’ve gotta keep control of your time, and you can’t unless you say no. You can’t let people set your agenda in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-ve-gotta-keep-control-of-your-time-and-you-can-t-unless-you-say/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [The power is to set the agenda. What we print and what we don't print matter a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/the-power-is-to-set-the-agenda-what-we-print-and-what-we-don-t-print/)

[Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/)

> [Never let the other fellow set the agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baker/never-let-the-other-fellow-set-the-agenda/)

[James Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baker/)

> [My only agenda is, I would like to see mainstream America more empowered to set an agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pincus/my-only-agenda-is-i-would-like-to-see-mainstream-america-more/)

[Mark Pincus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pincus/)

> [We need a modern people's lobby that empowers all of us to choose our leaders and set our agenda. Imagine voting for a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pincus/we-need-a-modern-people-s-lobby-that-empowers-all-of-us-to-choose-our/)

[Mark Pincus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pincus/)

> [Have you ever noticed the Democrats always set the agenda? Whatever the Democrats say they want, that's just what's gonna happen. There's no questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/have-you-ever-noticed-the-democrats-always-set-the-agenda-whatever/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

## More by Gerry Adams

> [I nominate the Reverend Ian Paisley for the position of First Minister of northern Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/i-nominate-the-reverend-ian-paisley-for-the-position-of-first/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [Hugging trees has a calming effect on me. I'm talking about enormous trees that will be there when we are all dead and gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/hugging-trees-has-a-calming-effect-on-me-i-m-talking-about-enormous/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [Your ability as republican volunteers, to rise to this challenge will mean that the two governments and others cannot easily hide from their obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/your-ability-as-republican-volunteers-to-rise-to-this-challenge-will/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [At that time, the army leadership said the implementation of this agreement would allow everyone, including the IRA, to take its political objectives forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/at-that-time-the-army-leadership-said-the-implementation-of-this/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [It's hard to think of a 16-month child being anything other than a delight to be around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/it-s-hard-to-think-of-a-16-month-child-being-anything-other-than-a/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [I stopped buying Sunday papers about 15 years ago, because you'd buy handfuls of them, and what you got, because the hard news comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/i-stopped-buying-sunday-papers-about-15-years-ago-because-you-d-buy/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [We are totally committed to ending partition and to creating the conditions for unity and independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/we-are-totally-committed-to-ending-partition-and-to-creating-the/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [There can be no such things as an Irish nationalist accepting the loyalist veto and partition. You cannot claim to be an Irish nationalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/there-can-be-no-such-things-as-an-irish-nationalist-accepting-the/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [Once water charges are in place they will only go up. This has been the history of all these charges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/once-water-charges-are-in-place-they-will-only-go-up-this-has-been/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [I think there is a huge responsibility upon governments to understand the consequence of their decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/i-think-there-is-a-huge-responsibility-upon-governments-to-understand/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [A real possibility now exists for a Government that is not led by either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/a-real-possibility-now-exists-for-a-government-that-is-not-led-by/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [“It will always be a batt le a day between those who want maximum change and those who want to maintain the status quo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/it-will-always-be-a-batt-le-a-day-between-those-who-want-maximum/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [The way forward is by building political support for republican and democratic objectives across Ireland and by winning support for these goals internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/the-way-forward-is-by-building-political-support-for-republican-and/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [Republican patience with how unionism deals with the political institutions, and with key issues like equality and human rights, will be tested because, obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/republican-patience-with-how-unionism-deals-with-the-political/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [I think the worst kind of grief is unacknowledged grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/i-think-the-worst-kind-of-grief-is-unacknowledged-grief/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

[Explore all 54 Gerry Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

## More Ireland quotes

> [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [I nominate the Reverend Ian Paisley for the position of First Minister of northern Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/i-nominate-the-reverend-ian-paisley-for-the-position-of-first/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [“Ireland is probably named the “Emerald Isle” because there are lots of precious stones found there, such as sapphires and rubies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/ireland-is-probably-named-the-emerald-isle-because-there-are-lots-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/)

[John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/)

> [“Do you know what Ireland is?' asked Stephen with cold violence. 'Ireland is the old sow that eats her farrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/do-you-know-what-ireland-is-asked-stephen-with-cold-violence-ireland/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [The cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland, and the cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/the-cause-of-labour-is-the-cause-of-ireland-and-the-cause-of-ireland/)

[James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/)

> [I love playing in Ireland and I've had great support here, like I get everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/i-love-playing-in-ireland-and-i-ve-had-great-support-here-like-i-get/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

> [Ireland's always going to be my home, but so much is filmed in L.A., so you have to spend time out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bolger/ireland-s-always-going-to-be-my-home-but-so-much-is-filmed-in-l-a-so/)

[Sarah Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bolger/)

> [Home, for me, is with the people who I really love - whether that's in England with my family, Ireland with my relatives, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-merton/home-for-me-is-with-the-people-who-i-really-love-whether-that-s-in/)

[Alice Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-merton/)

> [“The host is rushing 'twixt day and night, And where is there hope or deed as fair? Caoilte tossing his burning hair, And Niamh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/the-host-is-rushing-twixt-day-and-night-and-where-is-there-hope-or/)

[W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/)

> [I'm a massive Greggs fan! I never actually knew about Greggs when I lived over in Ireland but the minute I came over everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/i-m-a-massive-greggs-fan-i-never-actually-knew-about-greggs-when-i/)

[Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/)

> [In Ireland there’s no such thing as bad weather ~~~ only the wrong clothes. (In the Company of Others)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/in-ireland-there-s-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather-only-the-wrong/)

[Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/)

> [They call them the haunted shores, these stretches of Devonshire and Cornwall and Ireland which rear up against the westward ocean. Mists gather here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/they-call-them-the-haunted-shores-these-stretches-of-devonshire-and/)

[Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/)

[Browse all 1,147 Ireland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ireland/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But if republicans are to prevail, if the peace process is to be successfully concluded and Irish sovereignty and re-unification secured, then we have to set the agenda - no-one else is going to do that.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gerry Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the-peace-process-is-to-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ireland"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the-peace-process-is-to-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69b/gerry-adams-12519_ireland_but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the_2282079.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But if republicans are to prevail, if the peace process is to be successfully concluded and Irish…” — Gerry Adams",
                "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": "Gerry Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But if republicans are to prevail,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the-peace-process-is-to-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/but-if-republicans-are-to-prevail-if-the-peace-process-is-to-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
