---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you believe you can make a difference…"
description: "\"If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all these important issues, then you have to be p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg"
---

#  If you believe you can make a difference, not just in…

![“If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all these important issues, then you have to be prepared to accept that you are not going to get 100 percent approval.” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg)

> “If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all these important issues, then you have to be prepared to accept that you are not going to get 100 percent approval.”

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

## About This Quote

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

Believing you can impact change requires accepting that you won’t receive universal support.

**In simple terms:** Change effort effort, approval is not guaranteed.

Key Takeaway

Embrace criticism as part of impact.

Themes

public service advocacy politics resilience

Mood

determined realistic

Type

inspirational pragmatic

When to use this quote

- community organizing
- policy advocacy
- public speaking
- nonprofit work

Key Concepts

civic engagement leadership social change

Questions to Reflect On

- How will you handle dissenting voices?
- What strategies keep you motivated despite setbacks?

A Different Perspective

Not all stakeholders will agree, which can stall initiatives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advocacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advocacy/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Make a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-a-difference/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Public service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-service/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/)

## Related quotes

> [In the long run, the replacement of the precise and disciplined language of science by the misleading language of litigation and advocacy may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lindzen/in-the-long-run-the-replacement-of-the-precise-and-disciplined/)

[Richard Lindzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lindzen/)

> [People who have committed to a service/advocacy role will tell you that some of the sublimest pleasure they have ever experienced comes in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-garfield/people-who-have-committed-to-a-service-advocacy-role-will-tell-you/)

[Charles Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-garfield/)

> [“If you are a power broker and have reached a certain level of prominence in our society, you should be using your influence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/if-you-are-a-power-broker-and-have-reached-a-certain-level-of/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [It may be hard to remember how difficult it was for people to talk about HIV/AIDS back in the 1980's and because of both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-may-be-hard-to-remember-how-difficult-it-was-for-people-to-talk/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [The consciousness-raising, the advocacy, the passion, the youth of your movement is so critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-consciousness-raising-the-advocacy-the-passion-the-youth-of-your/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [“If you mistake; just accept that rather than you are going through to make another mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehsan-sehgal/if-you-mistake-just-accept-that-rather-than-you-are-going-through-to/)

[Ehsan Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehsan-sehgal/)

> [In order to control myself I must first accept myself by going with and not against my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/in-order-to-control-myself-i-must-first-accept-myself-by-going-with/)

[Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/)

> [It took me a while to accept that I'm not going to have the curves other girls get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenae-grimes/it-took-me-a-while-to-accept-that-i-m-not-going-to-have-the-curves/)

[Shenae Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenae-grimes/)

> [Not all things always go your way and you have to accept that. That's what you are going to get as a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/not-all-things-always-go-your-way-and-you-have-to-accept-that-that-s/)

[Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/)

> [Someone in this world will accept you for who you are, all you're going to have to do is accept that you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-in-this-world-will-accept-you-for-who-you-are-all-you-re/)

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

> [The longer you experience a scene, you tend to accept what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/the-longer-you-experience-a-scene-you-tend-to-accept-what-s-going-on/)

[Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/)

> [“The world is an all right place to be, when you accept all that is going on around you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-olson/the-world-is-an-all-right-place-to-be-when-you-accept-all-that-is/)

Sarah Olson

> [You need to accept the fact that you will often do exactly the opposite of what you think is right. You need to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-need-to-accept-the-fact-that-you-will-often-do-exactly-the/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [There's a big A my team likes to talk about, which is Accepts. If you can't 'accept,' then you're never going to play well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/there-s-a-big-a-my-team-likes-to-talk-about-which-is-accepts-if-you/)

[Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/)

> [When you are like a maniac, you just have to accept where you are and what's going on in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/when-you-are-like-a-maniac-you-just-have-to-accept-where-you-are-and/)

[Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/)

## More by Hillary Clinton

> [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I think we have to take a look at corporate law. We have to take a look at the incentives that we can perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-have-to-take-a-look-at-corporate-law-we-have-to-take-a/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-in-new-york-we-have-several-million-at-any-one-time-who-are/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-always-believed-that-women-are-not-victims-we-are-agents-of/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We now have power under the Dodd-Frank legislation to break up banks. And I've said I will use that power if they pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-now-have-power-under-the-dodd-frank-legislation-to-break-up-banks/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We need to have more second chance programs. I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system; I want to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-have-more-second-chance-programs-i-m-glad-that-we-re/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

[Explore all 1,911 Hillary Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

## More Accept quotes

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/)

[Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/)

> [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/)

[Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/)

> [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/)

[Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/)

> [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/)

[Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/)

> [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/)

[Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/)

> [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/)

[Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/)

> [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/)

[Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/)

> [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/)

[Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/)

> [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/)

[Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/)

> [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/)

Chan Heng Chee

> [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/)

[Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/)

> [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/)

[Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/)

> [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/)

[Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/)

Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all these important issues, then you have to be prepared to accept that you are not going to get 100 percent approval.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hillary Clinton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference-not-just-in-politics-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accept"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference-not-just-in-politics-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/hillary-clinton-51_accept_if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference_2577716.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all…” — Hillary Clinton",
                "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": "Hillary Clinton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you believe you can make...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference-not-just-in-politics-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-you-believe-you-can-make-a-difference-not-just-in-politics-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
