---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be nice to redefine ourselves…"
description: "\"It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we are drowning in diversity. That's not a bad thing, its just going to take a while before we r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg"
---

#  It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we…

![“It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we are drowning in diversity. That's not a bad thing, its just going to take a while before we refocus.” quote by Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg)

> “It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we are drowning in diversity. That's not a bad thing, its just going to take a while before we refocus.”

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote suggests that current societal diversity feels overwhelming, but it can be reframed as a temporary challenge before achieving unity.

**In simple terms:** Diversity feels overwhelming now but will settle into unity.

Key Takeaway

Embrace diversity as a phase toward cohesion.

Themes

identity diversity change focus patience

Mood

reflective optimistic

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- team building
- community planning
- policy making
- education curricula

Key Concepts

social dynamics collective identity cultural integration

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance celebrating diversity while fostering shared purpose?
- What steps help transition from feeling overwhelmed to collaborative focus?

A Different Perspective

It may underestimate the value of ongoing pluralism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Being nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-nice/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Diversity Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity-bad-4041720/) [Drowning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning/) [Drowning Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning-diversity-4041723/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Nice Redefine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice-redefine-4041721/) [Redefine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redefine/) [Redefine Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/redefine-moment-4041722/) [Refocus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refocus/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [You have to find things that are accessible and doable in your busy life and try to fit some time in your schedule to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anousheh-ansari/you-have-to-find-things-that-are-accessible-and-doable-in-your-busy/)

[Anousheh Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anousheh-ansari/)

> [Unequal Democracy is the sort of book to which every political scientist should aspire--it is methodologically rigorous, conceptually serious, and above all, it addresses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-putnam/unequal-democracy-is-the-sort-of-book-to-which-every-political/)

[Robert D. Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-putnam/)

> [Indeed we have great reason to rejoice. If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/indeed-we-have-great-reason-to-rejoice-if-life-and-its-rushed-pace/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Leaders should get out of their comfort zone but stay in their strength zone. When their work lies within their natural gifting and strengths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-should-get-out-of-their-comfort-zone-but-stay-in-their/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/if-life-and-its-rushed-pace-and-many-stresses-have-made-it-difficult/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [While we are on the go, we need to stop between steps, to refocus on the Word and the will of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/while-we-are-on-the-go-we-need-to-stop-between-steps-to-refocus-on/)

[T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/)

> [Brain studies of mental workouts in which you sustain a single, chosen focus show that the more you detach from what's distracting you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/brain-studies-of-mental-workouts-in-which-you-sustain-a-single-chosen/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/let-us-be-mindful-of-the-foundational-precepts-our-heavenly-father/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [“I needed to refocus and get my act together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-needed-to-refocus-and-get-my-act-together/)

[Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/)

> [“Self-observation helps us to refocus within, to balance ourselves and to be in the present moment…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-ripstein/self-observation-helps-us-to-refocus-within-to-balance-ourselves-and/)

[Jacqueline Ripstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-ripstein/)

> [Anytime an athlete deals with an injury, it forces you to revaluate and refocus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-virtue/anytime-an-athlete-deals-with-an-injury-it-forces-you-to-revaluate/)

[Tessa Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-virtue/)

> [Over the past month, Muslims have fasted, taking no food or water during daylight hours, in order to refocus their minds on faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/over-the-past-month-muslims-have-fasted-taking-no-food-or-water/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“When setbacks arise - and they will from time to time - regroup, recharge, refocus and refine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/when-setbacks-arise-and-they-will-from-time-to-time-regroup-recharge/)

[Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/)

> [I'd like to refocus everyone's attention away from the Kardashians and onto Doctors Without Borders or aid workers. Let's redefine scandal. Scandal is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/i-d-like-to-refocus-everyone-s-attention-away-from-the-kardashians/)

[Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/)

> [I have to move on now as there is no point to dwell on the past. I have a few days to refocus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/i-have-to-move-on-now-as-there-is-no-point-to-dwell-on-the-past-i/)

[Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/)

## More by Harvey Fierstein

> [I am thrilled - I can't stress that enough - thrilled when I see kids getting active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-am-thrilled-i-can-t-stress-that-enough-thrilled-when-i-see-kids/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [I often say that if you want to really want to understand the contract of marriage, just ask anyone who has been divorced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-often-say-that-if-you-want-to-really-want-to-understand-the/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [Always admit when you're wrong. You'll save thousands in therapy... and a few friendships too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/always-admit-when-you-re-wrong-you-ll-save-thousands-in-therapy-and-a/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [So, did I work with Warhol? I worked with him less on that play then I did on other things. He actually did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/so-did-i-work-with-warhol-i-worked-with-him-less-on-that-play-then-i/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [I got the regular call, that they were doing a Broadway musical of Hairspray, and would I come and audition. I was familiar with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-got-the-regular-call-that-they-were-doing-a-broadway-musical-of/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [Is a gay play a play that has sex with other plays?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/is-a-gay-play-a-play-that-has-sex-with-other-plays/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [There are easier things in life than being a drag queen. But I ain't got no choice. Try as I may, I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/there-are-easier-things-in-life-than-being-a-drag-queen-but-i-ain-t/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [A thing of beauty is a joy till sunrise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-till-sunrise/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [You may feel powerless as a child, but the world will one day be yours. And you're responsible for it. So, seize the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/you-may-feel-powerless-as-a-child-but-the-world-will-one-day-be-yours/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [The world is full of more interesting things than my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/the-world-is-full-of-more-interesting-things-than-my-voice/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [I really am a theater person. That means you put something out there, and you let it go. Tomorrow night is a new performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-really-am-a-theater-person-that-means-you-put-something-out-there/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [Actually, I think the average voice is like 70 percent tone and 30 percent noise. My voice is 95 percent noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/actually-i-think-the-average-voice-is-like-70-percent-tone-and-30/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/while-we-dance-in-the-streets-and-pat-ourselves-on-the-back-for-being/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [My father was brought up in an orphanage in the Catskills. He was a factory worker. And because his family wasn't there for him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/my-father-was-brought-up-in-an-orphanage-in-the-catskills-he-was-a/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

> [How time flies when you're doin all the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/how-time-flies-when-you-re-doin-all-the-talking/)

[Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

[Explore all 86 Harvey Fierstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/)

## More Bad thing quotes

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/)

[Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/)

> [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/)

[Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/)

> [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/)

[John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/)

> [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/)

[Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/)

> [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/)

[Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/)

> [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/)

[Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/)

> [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/)

[Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/)

> [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/)

[Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/)

> [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. Don't be hardheaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-williams-garcia/dear-delphine-when-you-are-older-i-want-you-to-find-chinua-achebe-i/)

[Rita Williams-Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-williams-garcia/)

> [Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/lobbying-is-not-a-bad-thing-i-m-not-trying-to-say-that-we-shouldn-t/)

[Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/)

> [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/)

[Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/)

[Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we are drowning in diversity. That's not a bad thing, its just going to take a while before we refocus.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harvey Fierstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-at-the-moment-we-are-drowning/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad thing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-at-the-moment-we-are-drowning/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/harvey-fierstein-7875_bad-thing_it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-a_2888188.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It would be nice to redefine ourselves - at the moment we are drowning in diversity. That's not a bad thing…” — Harvey Fierstein",
                "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": "Harvey Fierstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It would be nice to redefine...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-at-the-moment-we-are-drowning/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/it-would-be-nice-to-redefine-ourselves-at-the-moment-we-are-drowning/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
