--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some say we should not engage in…" description: "\"Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we should leave everything to our politicians and just vote for a change instead. But what do we do ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/greta-thunburg-5897_change_some-say-we-should-not-engage-in-activis_2053425.jpg" --- # Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we… ![“Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we should leave everything to our politicians and just vote for a change instead. But what do we do when there is no political will? What do we do when the politics needed are nowhere in sight?” quote by Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/greta-thunburg-5897_change_some-say-we-should-not-engage-in-activis_2053425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/greta-thunburg-5897_change_some-say-we-should-not-engage-in-activis_2053425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/greta-thunburg-5897_change_some-say-we-should-not-engage-in-activis_2053425.jpg) > “Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we should leave everything to our politicians and just vote for a change instead. But what do we do when there is no political will? What do we do when the politics needed are nowhere in sight?” [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When political leaders lack will, individuals must create change through grassroots action and personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** If politicians won’t act, people must act themselves. Key Takeaway Take initiative, organize locally. Themes activism responsibility citizen empowerment Mood determined urgent Type inspirational call to action When to use this quote - community organizing - social media campaigns - local policy advocacy - personal lifestyle changes Key Concepts climate justice grassroots movements political agency Questions to Reflect On - How can you influence change without elected officials? - What small actions can build larger movements? A Different Perspective Relying solely on politics can be slow and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Even if the politics needed doesn't exist today, we still need to use our voices to make sure that the people in power are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/even-if-the-politics-needed-doesn-t-exist-today-we-still-need-to-use/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [“To engage in activism that envisions alternatives ways of organizing society and alternative ways of being is to risk membership in society, a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-b-gould/to-engage-in-activism-that-envisions-alternatives-ways-of-organizing/) Deborah B. Gould > [I think anybody who wants to be president has to be a politician, but I would like to find somebody who's coming from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-anybody-who-wants-to-be-president-has-to-be-a-politician-but/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [I want the politicians to prioritise the climate question, focus on the climate and treat it like a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-want-the-politicians-to-prioritise-the-climate-question-focus-on/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [“Until you find a cause you can die for, you are not worthy to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/until-you-find-a-cause-you-can-die-for-you-are-not-worthy-to-live/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [“The times do not call for grassroots political activism, as if the next election might be enough to reverse a massive cultural earthquake. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-miller/the-times-do-not-call-for-grassroots-political-activism-as-if-the/) Paul D. Miller > [Being in service and being involved in something that is greater than you is what makes a person complete and whole. The very first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/being-in-service-and-being-involved-in-something-that-is-greater-than/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) Susan J. Ellis > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“All struggles against oppression in the modern woeld begin by redefining what had previously been consideered private, non-public and non-political issues as matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyla-benhabib/all-struggles-against-oppression-in-the-modern-woeld-begin-by/) Seyla Benhabib > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Greta Thunburg > [I don't really like being in the centre of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-don-t-really-like-being-in-the-centre-of-attention/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I think that once you fully understand the climate and ecological emergencies, then you know what you can do as well. And, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-think-that-once-you-fully-understand-the-climate-and-ecological/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [We can no longer save the world by playing by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/we-can-no-longer-save-the-world-by-playing-by-the-rules/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [The best thing about my protest has been to see how more and more people have been coming and getting involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/the-best-thing-about-my-protest-has-been-to-see-how-more-and-more/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I really miss having a routine because now I've been on the road constantly for several months. I like routines, so it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-really-miss-having-a-routine-because-now-i-ve-been-on-the-road/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I mean, people aren't continuing like this and not doing anything because they are evil, or because they don't want to. We aren't destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-mean-people-aren-t-continuing-like-this-and-not-doing-anything/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I have Asperger's, I'm on the autism spectrum, so I don't really care about social codes. It makes you think differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-have-asperger-s-i-m-on-the-autism-spectrum-so-i-don-t-really-care/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Most emissions aren't caused by individuals, they're caused by corporations and states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/most-emissions-aren-t-caused-by-individuals-they-re-caused-by/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [We have to understand what the older generation has dealt to us, what mess they have created that we have to clean up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/we-have-to-understand-what-the-older-generation-has-dealt-to-us-what/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I thought I couldn't make a difference because I was too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-thought-i-couldn-t-make-a-difference-because-i-was-too-small/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [It's empowering to know I am doing something, I am taking a stand, I am disrupting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/it-s-empowering-to-know-i-am-doing-something-i-am-taking-a-stand-i-am/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Some people can just let things go, but I can't, especially if there's something that worries me or makes me sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/some-people-can-just-let-things-go-but-i-can-t-especially-if-there-s/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [My message to the Americans is the same as to everyone - that is to unite behind the science and to act on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/my-message-to-the-americans-is-the-same-as-to-everyone-that-is-to/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I am an introvert; privately I am very shy, and I don't speak unless I have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-am-an-introvert-privately-i-am-very-shy-and-i-don-t-speak-unless-i/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I have promised myself that I'm going to do everything I can for as long as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-have-promised-myself-that-i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-for-as/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) [Explore all 100 Greta Thunburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) ## More Activism quotes > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“All struggles against oppression in the modern woeld begin by redefining what had previously been consideered private, non-public and non-political issues as matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyla-benhabib/all-struggles-against-oppression-in-the-modern-woeld-begin-by/) Seyla Benhabib > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) Susan J. Ellis > [Being in service and being involved in something that is greater than you is what makes a person complete and whole. The very first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/being-in-service-and-being-involved-in-something-that-is-greater-than/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [“The times do not call for grassroots political activism, as if the next election might be enough to reverse a massive cultural earthquake. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-miller/the-times-do-not-call-for-grassroots-political-activism-as-if-the/) Paul D. Miller > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“Until you find a cause you can die for, you are not worthy to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/until-you-find-a-cause-you-can-die-for-you-are-not-worthy-to-live/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Ya'll know what you need to do? Get together, make a We Are The World record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/ya-ll-know-what-you-need-to-do-get-together-make-a-we-are-the-world/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [“There is no way to tell if we are the pioneers of a visionary new age, whisking humanity into the high vibrations of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-talat-phillips/there-is-no-way-to-tell-if-we-are-the-pioneers-of-a-visionary-new-age/) [Jonathan Talat Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-talat-phillips/) > [Terence McKenna says, "The culture is not your friend." I am not sure we can change this culture. But I think we can rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/terence-mckenna-says-the-culture-is-not-your-friend-i-am-not-sure-we/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“A spirituality that is only private and self-absorbed, one devoid of an authentic political and social consciousness, does little to halt the suicidal juggernaut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-harvey/a-spirituality-that-is-only-private-and-self-absorbed-one-devoid-of/) [Andrew Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-harvey/) [Browse all 820 Activism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we should leave everything to our politicians and just vote for a change instead. But what do we do when there is no political will? 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