Civil disobedience Quote by Howard Zinn
““The challenge remains. On the other side are formidable forces: money, political power, the major media. On our side are the people of the world and a power greater than money or weapons: the truth. Truth has a power of its own. Art has a power of its own. That age-old lesson – that everything we do matters – is the meaning of the people’s struggle here in the United States and everywhere. A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution. Civil disobedience can arouse people and provoke us to think, when we organize with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress. We live in a beautiful country. But people who have no respect for human life, freedom, or justice have taken it over. It is now up to all of us to take it back.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at a rally, United States, 2010
Truth and art empower people beyond money and weapons, inspiring collective action against oppressive forces.
In simple terms: Truth, art, and people can overcome power.
Use truth and creativity to mobilize change.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- protests
- community organizing
- writing poetry
- creating pamphlets
- civil disobedience
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can truth be amplified in media?
- What role does art play in modern activism?
Truth alone may not change entrenched systems without strategic planning.