--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some of the most valuable stuff I do has…" description: "\"Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in movements.\" — Harvey Pekar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg" --- # Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my… ![“Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in movements.” quote by Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg) > “Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in movements.” [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dissenting from popular opinion in movements yields valuable insights. **In simple terms:** Questioning group norms brings insight. Key Takeaway Challenge consensus to discover truth. Themes individualism social movements critical thinking Mood reflective inquisitive Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - personal life - community organizing - political activism Key Concepts sociology psychology activism Questions to Reflect On - When have you disagreed with the majority? - What did you learn from that? A Different Perspective Dissent can isolate the dissenters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Movements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movements/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I played ball in college and semi-professional, and aside from the game and all that, the most valuable thing is the relationships. Who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamman-rucker/i-played-ball-in-college-and-semi-professional-and-aside-from-the/) [Lamman Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamman-rucker/) > [I also believe that when something negative comes out about you in the media, that's only one person's opinion. These guys sometimes believe they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-also-believe-that-when-something-negative-comes-out-about-you-in/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-many-happy-those-who-are/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion is general, it is usually correct. Though”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-speak-what-appears-to-me-the-general-opinion-and-where-an-opinion/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/general-opinion-s-starting-to-make-out-that-we-live-in-a-world-of/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [The noble position of motherhood aside, our general opinion about women is that, while taking into account their specific needs, it should be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fethullah-gulen/the-noble-position-of-motherhood-aside-our-general-opinion-about/) [Fethullah Gulen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fethullah-gulen/) > [And that which yesterday was the novel opinion of one man, to-day becomes the general opinion of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/and-that-which-yesterday-was-the-novel-opinion-of-one-man-to-day/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-sees-what-you-seem-to-be-few-know-what-you-really-are-and/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [We need dissenting opinions, and we need people who aren't afraid to share them. The Biden administration doesn't want this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/we-need-dissenting-opinions-and-we-need-people-who-aren-t-afraid-to/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-dissenting-minority-feels-free-only-when-it-can-impose-its-will-on/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“Having a dissenting opinion on movies, music, or clothes, or owning clever or obscure possessions, is the way middle-class people fight one another for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcraney/having-a-dissenting-opinion-on-movies-music-or-clothes-or-owning/) [David McRaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcraney/) > [Intolerance is natural and logical, for in every dissenting opinion lies an assumption of superior wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/intolerance-is-natural-and-logical-for-in-every-dissenting-opinion/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Dissenting opinions are useful even when they're wrong. So instead of speaking to highly agreeable audiences, target suggestions to people with a history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/dissenting-opinions-are-useful-even-when-they-re-wrong-so-instead-of/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [He's never quite got the trick of conversation, tending to hear in dissenting views, however mild, a kind of affront, an invitation to mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-s-never-quite-got-the-trick-of-conversation-tending-to-hear-in/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [My dissenting opinions, like my briefs, are intended to persuade. And sometimes one must be forceful about saying how wrong the Court's decision is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/my-dissenting-opinions-like-my-briefs-are-intended-to-persuade-and/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) ## More by Harvey Pekar > [Every ethnic group thinks they are the chosen ones. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/every-ethnic-group-thinks-they-are-the-chosen-ones/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/since-about-1980-kenny-werner-has-been-one-of-jazz-s-unsung-heroes/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think that the so-called average person often exhibits a great deal of heroism in getting through an ordinary day . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-that-the-so-called-average-person-often-exhibits-a-great-deal/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [It's real easy for me to write a lot of stories. I just go and I live through something, and I go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-real-easy-for-me-to-write-a-lot-of-stories-i-just-go-and-i-live/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I've just been writing stuff down as it comes to me. I haven't thought, 'Let me write some major opus here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-ve-just-been-writing-stuff-down-as-it-comes-to-me-i-haven-t-thought/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm always shook up and nervous and I've got the hospital record to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-always-shook-up-and-nervous-and-i-ve-got-the-hospital-record-to/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm a guy that likes to sit in one place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-a-guy-that-likes-to-sit-in-one-place/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [People who are readers of fiction aren't particularly interested in comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/people-who-are-readers-of-fiction-aren-t-particularly-interested-in/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [When you're dead, it robs life of many of it's pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/when-you-re-dead-it-robs-life-of-many-of-it-s-pleasures/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My parents' work ethic amazed me. How could they put in such long hours, day after day? Part of the reason was to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/my-parents-work-ethic-amazed-me-how-could-they-put-in-such-long-hours/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think you can find all the elements that you can find in great literature in mundane experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-you-can-find-all-the-elements-that-you-can-find-in-great/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Life is about women, gigs, an' bein' creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/life-is-about-women-gigs-an-bein-creative/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [The film's success so far involves winning a couple of prizes at Cannes and Sundance, and getting some very nice reviews in newspapers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/the-film-s-success-so-far-involves-winning-a-couple-of-prizes-at/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I just continue to be kind of disappointed that people don't realize that and try and diversify the kind of work they are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-just-continue-to-be-kind-of-disappointed-that-people-don-t-realize/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mistakes-it-s-just-that-i-chose/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) [Explore all 104 Harvey Pekar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in movements.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harvey Pekar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has-to-do-with-my-dissenting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has-to-do-with-my-dissenting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/harvey-pekar-4945_about_some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has_2482192.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in…” — Harvey Pekar", "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 Pekar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some of the most valuable stuff...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has-to-do-with-my-dissenting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has-to-do-with-my-dissenting/#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 } } ] } ```