--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Collective action is a tough thing, but I…" description: "\"Collective action is a tough thing, but I can't think of a more divided moment than right now. We're going to keep sliding - Detroit will keep sliding,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/heidi-ewing-52766_action_collective-action-is-a-tough-thing-but-i_678887.jpg" --- # Collective action is a tough thing, but I can't think of a… ![“Collective action is a tough thing, but I can't think of a more divided moment than right now. We're going to keep sliding - Detroit will keep sliding, the country will keep sliding, and we'll just become a second-rate nation - if we don't make some decisions as a country.” quote by Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/heidi-ewing-52766_action_collective-action-is-a-tough-thing-but-i_678887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/heidi-ewing-52766_action_collective-action-is-a-tough-thing-but-i_678887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/724/heidi-ewing-52766_action_collective-action-is-a-tough-thing-but-i_678887.jpg) > “Collective action is a tough thing, but I can't think of a more divided moment than right now. We're going to keep sliding - Detroit will keep sliding, the country will keep sliding, and we'll just become a second-rate nation - if we don't make some decisions as a country.” [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) ## 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 warns that without decisive collective action, the nation risks decline and mediocrity. **In simple terms:** If we don't act together, the country will fall behind. Key Takeaway Act now to unite and decide as a nation. Themes unity leadership national decline collective responsibility Mood concerned urgent reflective Type political motivational When to use this quote - government decision‑making - community organizing - civic engagement - national elections Key Concepts political inertia social fragmentation policy paralysis Questions to Reflect On - What decisions are most urgent for national unity? - How can divided groups find common ground? A Different Perspective The statement may overlook existing efforts and optimism for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Collective action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collective-action/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [ It's \[Into the Badlands\] something that's very, very different and I think that's why it divided critics initially because they didn't understand it or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-millar/it-s-into-the-badlands-something-that-s-very-very-different-and-i/) [Miles Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-millar/) > [There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign. But I can always speak for myself and the Russians. Zero. I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/there-is-no-collusion-between-certainly-myself-and-my-campaign-but-i/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I actually don't think we're more divided than we were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/i-actually-don-t-think-we-re-more-divided-than-we-were/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [I don't think we're as divided as many in the elite would have us believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/i-don-t-think-we-re-as-divided-as-many-in-the-elite-would-have-us/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [I actually don't think we're more divided than we were. I think it's more evident. It's more evident because of the internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/i-actually-don-t-think-we-re-more-divided-than-we-were-i-think-it-s/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“The first basic income pilot in a developing country was implemented in the small Namibian village of Otjivero-Omitara in 2008–9, covering about 1,000 people.40…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/the-first-basic-income-pilot-in-a-developing-country-was-implemented/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [Collectivism means the subjugation of the individual to a group - whether to a race, class or state does not matter. Collectivism holds that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/collectivism-means-the-subjugation-of-the-individual-to-a-group/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Through their own actions, customers can hold companies responsible to higher standards of social responsibility. Through collective action, they can leverage their dollars to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/through-their-own-actions-customers-can-hold-companies-responsible-to/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [The national school is not a lecture hall or a library. 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A. Hayek > [“A revolution on a world scale will take a very long time. But it is also possible to recognize that it is already starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/a-revolution-on-a-world-scale-will-take-a-very-long-time-but-it-is/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [“Markets do not automatically generate trust, cooperation or collective action for the common good. Quite the contrary: it is in the nature of economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/markets-do-not-automatically-generate-trust-cooperation-or-collective/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [What is accurately portrayed is the rich humanity not just of Martin Luther King but of the movement, which was a multiracial movement. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/what-is-accurately-portrayed-is-the-rich-humanity-not-just-of-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## More by Heidi Ewing > [There's always the question when you're making a documentary if the talking heads will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ewing/there-s-always-the-question-when-you-re-making-a-documentary-if-the/) [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) > [I don't make films about celebrities, are not interested in celebrities. I don't make biographies at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ewing/i-don-t-make-films-about-celebrities-are-not-interested-in/) [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) > [I think women have the ability to stick with things over a long period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ewing/i-think-women-have-the-ability-to-stick-with-things-over-a-long/) [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) > [You can root for someone who's imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ewing/you-can-root-for-someone-who-s-imperfect/) [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) > [You can't just hope things away. All of us have to care, to really focus on our cities, because that's where most people live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ewing/you-can-t-just-hope-things-away-all-of-us-have-to-care-to-really/) [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) > [I like visual layers, stylistically, that's something I enjoy and seek to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ewing/i-like-visual-layers-stylistically-that-s-something-i-enjoy-and-seek/) [Heidi Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) [Explore all 7 Heidi Ewing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ewing/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Collective action is a tough thing, but I can't think of a more divided moment than right now. 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