--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I work with gang members, and I feel a…" description: "\"I work with gang members, and I feel a kind of affinity and gift, even. But who would've thunk it, you know? I mean, I didn't anticipate it.\" — Greg Boyle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/greg-boyle-3692_affinity_i-work-with-gang-members-and-i-feel-a-ki_596431.png" --- # I work with gang members, and I feel a kind of affinity… ![“I work with gang members, and I feel a kind of affinity and gift, even. But who would've thunk it, you know? I mean, I didn't anticipate it.” quote by Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/greg-boyle-3692_affinity_i-work-with-gang-members-and-i-feel-a-ki_596431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/greg-boyle-3692_affinity_i-work-with-gang-members-and-i-feel-a-ki_596431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2e/greg-boyle-3692_affinity_i-work-with-gang-members-and-i-feel-a-ki_596431.png) > “I work with gang members, and I feel a kind of affinity and gift, even. But who would've thunk it, you know? I mean, I didn't anticipate it.” [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working with gang members reveals unexpected connections and gifts, despite surprise. **In simple terms:** Unexpected bonds form with gang members. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected connections. Themes unexpected connections affinity gift surprise Mood reflective hopeful Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - prison outreach - youth mentorship - conflict zones - social services Key Concepts social work rehabilitation community building Questions to Reflect On - What gifts have you found in unlikely places? - How do you navigate surprise and bias? A Different Perspective Prejudice may hinder openness; safety concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affinity/) [Anticipate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipate/) [Didn Anticipate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-anticipate-1257751/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Gang members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang-members/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [I feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-feel/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Members Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members-feel-3149558/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-gang-867025/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy as a system has evolved into something that Thomas Jefferson didn't anticipate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/democracy-as-a-system-has-evolved-into-something-that-thomas/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Going into Somalia, I didn't anticipate how many people's lives would be affected by it. In hindsight, I certainly wish I had taken more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/going-into-somalia-i-didn-t-anticipate-how-many-people-s-lives-would/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [I had a feeling 'Star Wars' might do well, but I didn't anticipate just how well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-had-a-feeling-star-wars-might-do-well-but-i-didn-t-anticipate-just/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I didn't anticipate the primal quality of my pleasure, the raw physicality of it, the way my whole body leaps forward when I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letty-cottin-pogrebin/i-didn-t-anticipate-the-primal-quality-of-my-pleasure-the-raw/) [Letty Cottin Pogrebin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letty-cottin-pogrebin/) > [Truly huge artistic collaboration on the Internet seems to work only if the gang has a well-defined objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/truly-huge-artistic-collaboration-on-the-internet-seems-to-work-only/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [Gang members aren't frightened into acceptable behavior by increased penalties, enhanced punishments, and the promise of new detention facilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/gang-members-aren-t-frightened-into-acceptable-behavior-by-increased/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Even gang members imagine a future that doesnt include gangs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/even-gang-members-imagine-a-future-that-doesnt-include-gangs/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [The idea that any law enforcement agency or person would ever know these gang members better than Homeboy Industries is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/the-idea-that-any-law-enforcement-agency-or-person-would-ever-know/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Even gang members imagine a future that doesn't include gangs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/even-gang-members-imagine-a-future-that-doesn-t-include-gangs/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Like the suffering child, gang members act out of their despair, and their actions are all the more alarming now for our not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/like-the-suffering-child-gang-members-act-out-of-their-despair-and/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [In Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world, we have 1,100 gangs and 120,000 gang members so it is a daunting, complex social dilemma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/in-los-angeles-the-gang-capital-of-the-world-we-have-1-100-gangs-and/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Gays seem to be at the bottom of the pecking order: no matter how far down the pecking order another group is, its members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/gays-seem-to-be-at-the-bottom-of-the-pecking-order-no-matter-how-far/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Team members who feel threatened but who are not aware of it become rigid - and that stops teamwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-schutz/team-members-who-feel-threatened-but-who-are-not-aware-of-it-become/) [William Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-schutz/) > [A community that is growing rich and seeks only to defend its goods and its reputation is dying. It has ceased to grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/a-community-that-is-growing-rich-and-seeks-only-to-defend-its-goods/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [If you dread the thought of wasted time in meetings, chances are that your team members feel the same way. Team members are also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-zwilling/if-you-dread-the-thought-of-wasted-time-in-meetings-chances-are-that/) [Martin Zwilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-zwilling/) ## More by Greg Boyle > [The truth is this: Brutalized, victimized children invariably will brutalize and victimize when they grow up. Is our only response to this the certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/the-truth-is-this-brutalized-victimized-children-invariably-will/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [I don't save people. God saves people. I can point them in the right direction. I can say, 'There's that door. I think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/i-don-t-save-people-god-saves-people-i-can-point-them-in-the-right/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Gang members aren't frightened into acceptable behavior by increased penalties, enhanced punishments, and the promise of new detention facilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/gang-members-aren-t-frightened-into-acceptable-behavior-by-increased/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [The idea that any law enforcement agency or person would ever know these gang members better than Homeboy Industries is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/the-idea-that-any-law-enforcement-agency-or-person-would-ever-know/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [You can't reason with gang violence: you can't talk to it, sit it at the table, and negotiate with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/you-can-t-reason-with-gang-violence-you-can-t-talk-to-it-sit-it-at/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [I have never seen a hopeful person join a gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/i-have-never-seen-a-hopeful-person-join-a-gang/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [Most citizens viewing the tape of Rodney G. King being beaten by police officers were stunned and uncomprehending. Most citizens, that is, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/most-citizens-viewing-the-tape-of-rodney-g-king-being-beaten-by/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [“On most days, if I'm true to myself, I just want to share my life with the poor, regardless of result. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/on-most-days-if-i-m-true-to-myself-i-just-want-to-share-my-life-with/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [The poor evangelize you about what's important and what is the Gospel, and that that's where the joy is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/the-poor-evangelize-you-about-what-s-important-and-what-is-the-gospel/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [“Leon Dufour, a world-renowned Jesuit theologian and Scripture scholar, a year before he died at ninety-nine, confided in a Jesuit who was caring for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/leon-dufour-a-world-renowned-jesuit-theologian-and-scripture-scholar/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [When the vastness of God meets the restriction of our own humanity, words can't hold it. 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Likewise I feel I have a great affinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-receive-huge-support-from-irish-and-british-sports-fans-alike-and/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [Savages have often been likened to children, and the comparison is not only correct but also highly instructive. Many naturalists consider that the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/savages-have-often-been-likened-to-children-and-the-comparison-is-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [My father being in the movie business, I thought being an actor would be great. But when I started singing to people in coffeehouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/my-father-being-in-the-movie-business-i-thought-being-an-actor-would/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [Gay men are perfect men for girls who are tough. They're not threatened by strong women, and they're usually very in touch with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/gay-men-are-perfect-men-for-girls-who-are-tough-they-re-not/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [A man is known by the books he reads, by the company he keeps, by the praise he gives, by his dress, by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-known-by-the-books-he-reads-by-the-company-he-keeps-by-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've got German, Cornish and Scottish ancestry. 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