--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we go on about the big things, the…" description: "\"When we go on about the big things, the political situation, global warming, world poverty, it all looks really terrible, with nothing getting better, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/ian-mcewan-494_big-things_when-we-go-on-about-the-big-things-the-p_2579394.jpg" --- # When we go on about the big things, the political… ![“When we go on about the big things, the political situation, global warming, world poverty, it all looks really terrible, with nothing getting better, nothing to look forward to. But when I think small, closer in-you know, a girl I've just met, or this song we'regoing to do with Chas, or…” quote by Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/ian-mcewan-494_big-things_when-we-go-on-about-the-big-things-the-p_2579394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/ian-mcewan-494_big-things_when-we-go-on-about-the-big-things-the-p_2579394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27e/ian-mcewan-494_big-things_when-we-go-on-about-the-big-things-the-p_2579394.jpg) > “When we go on about the big things, the political situation, global warming, world poverty, it all looks really terrible, with nothing getting better, nothing to look forward to. But when I think small, closer in-you know, a girl I've just met, or this song we'regoing to do with Chas, or snowboarding next month, then it looks great. So this is going to be my motto - think small.” [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on small, personal moments can bring hope amid global crises. **In simple terms:** Small joys counter big worries. Key Takeaway Appreciate everyday experiences. Themes hope mindfulness perspective Mood hopeful introspective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - daily life - creative projects - sports - relationships Key Concepts personal joy mental health coping strategies Questions to Reflect On - What small moments uplift you? - How can personal joy inspire broader change? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on small may ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Get better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-better/) [Getting better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-better/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Going Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-motto-503712/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto/) [Motto Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto-think-1765037/) [My motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-motto/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Snowboarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snowboarding/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-small/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-poverty/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just going to keep going. That's been my motto since I was younger, through all adversity and all obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-alvarez/i-m-just-going-to-keep-going-that-s-been-my-motto-since-i-was-younger/) [Eddy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-alvarez/) > [“You know what my motto is?' I didn't think people had mottoes anymore,' I said. Think fantastic,' Chuck said. 'My motto is, Think fantastic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-neill/you-know-what-my-motto-is-i-didn-t-think-people-had-mottoes-anymore-i/) [Joseph O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-neill/) > [“(My motto: Why think rationally when you can add a little drama?)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-russell/my-motto-why-think-rationally-when-you-can-add-a-little-drama/) [Helen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-russell/) > [Another Black Label motto. That's what I think life is. It's just another bridge to cross. You ask no questions. Whatever work it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/another-black-label-motto-that-s-what-i-think-life-is-it-s-just/) [Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/) > [“When you're small enough to have to look up at everyone around you, there's no such thing as a dirty fight. That's a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/when-you-re-small-enough-to-have-to-look-up-at-everyone-around-you/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [This is not about charity, it's about justice... The war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty - I didn't say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/this-is-not-about-charity-it-s-about-justice-the-war-against-terror/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [The issue of poverty is not a statistical issue. It is a human issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfensohn/the-issue-of-poverty-is-not-a-statistical-issue-it-is-a-human-issue/) [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) > [The television reports gave me my first inkling of a world beyond my own, a world that wasn't fair or equal, a world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-wellington/the-television-reports-gave-me-my-first-inkling-of-a-world-beyond-my/) [Chrissie Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-wellington/) > [People from the world's richest countries should be prepared to accept the burden of debt reduction for heavily indebted poor countries, and should urge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/people-from-the-world-s-richest-countries-should-be-prepared-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Is globalization about 'the eradication of world poverty,' or is it a mutant variety of colonialism, remote controlled and digitally operated?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/is-globalization-about-the-eradication-of-world-poverty-or-is-it-a/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, . . . neither persons nor property will be safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/where-justice-is-denied-where-poverty-is-enforced-neither-persons-nor/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Dream of a world where poverty is history, dream of a world where we don't spend those obscene billions on arms, knowing full well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/dream-of-a-world-where-poverty-is-history-dream-of-a-world-where-we/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [There are those... who enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aga-khan-iv/there-are-those-who-enter-the-world-in-such-poverty-that-they-are/) [Aga Khan IV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aga-khan-iv/) > [The greatest of evils and the worst of crimes is poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-greatest-of-evils-and-the-worst-of-crimes-is-poverty/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Because there is global insecurity, nations are engaged in a mad arms race, spending billions of dollars wastefully on instruments of destruction, when millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/because-there-is-global-insecurity-nations-are-engaged-in-a-mad-arms/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## More by Ian Mcewan > [“As you will see, we do not believe that artists have an obligation to strike up attitudes to the war. Indeed, they are wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-you-will-see-we-do-not-believe-that-artists-have-an-obligation-to/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/you-could-say-that-all-novels-are-spy-novels-and-all-novelists-are/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-never-had-a-moment-s-doubt-i-love-you-i-believe-in-you/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“It is shaming sometimes, how the body will not, or cannot, lie about emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-is-shaming-sometimes-how-the-body-will-not-or-cannot-lie-about/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Perhaps it's one of those cases of a microcosm giving you the whole world. Like a spode dinner plate. Or a single cell. Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/perhaps-it-s-one-of-those-cases-of-a-microcosm-giving-you-the-whole/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Who you get, and how it works out- there's so much luck involved, as well as the million branching consequences of your conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/who-you-get-and-how-it-works-out-there-s-so-much-luck-involved-as/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“On Chesil Beach he could have called out to Florence, he could have gone after her. He did not know, or would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/on-chesil-beach-he-could-have-called-out-to-florence-he-could-have/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [It was always the view of my parents...that hot weather encouraged loose morals among young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-was-always-the-view-of-my-parents-that-hot-weather-encouraged/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-apologize-for-being-obvious-but-every-time-i-watch-the-curtain-come/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I would rather be physically disabled obviously than mentally. I would rather be paraplegic than nuts. And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Words, as I'm beginning to appreciate, can make things true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/words-as-i-m-beginning-to-appreciate-can-make-things-true/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I couldn't think about novels at all. It seemed the only writing that was appropriate to that horrendous event was journalism, reportage. And, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-couldn-t-think-about-novels-at-all-it-seemed-the-only-writing-that/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I did not kill my father, but I sometimes felt I had helped him on his way. And but for the fact that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-did-not-kill-my-father-but-i-sometimes-felt-i-had-helped-him-on-his/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) [Explore all 496 Ian Mcewan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More Big things quotes > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) [Lawrence Dale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-dale-bell/) > [ITS FUNNY HOW YOU CAN MAKE SILENT HAPPINESS TO OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR NONE SENSE ACTIONS. BECAUSE SOMETHINGS IT MAYBE LITTLE AS WE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/its-funny-how-you-can-make-silent-happiness-to-other-people-out-of/) [NO VOICE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-voice/) > [The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-little-things-i-can-obey-but-the-big-things-how-we-think-what-we/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [The little things are being early to meetings and lifts, stretching and warming up - doing all these things consistently, the walk-throughs that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/the-little-things-are-being-early-to-meetings-and-lifts-stretching/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I promise you this: at the end of your days, you will discover that the things you now perceive to be the big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/i-promise-you-this-at-the-end-of-your-days-you-will-discover-that-the/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“When it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are-no-accidents-everything/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [There are experts in little things but there are no experts in big things. There are experts in this fact and that fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/there-are-experts-in-little-things-but-there-are-no-experts-in-big/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) [Browse all 748 Big things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we go on about the big things, the political situation, global warming, world poverty, it all looks really terrible, with nothing getting better, nothing to look forward to. But when I think small, closer in-you know, a girl I've just met, or this song we'regoing to do with Chas, or snowboarding next month, then it looks great. 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