--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always been grateful to Colonel…" description: "\"I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved to me that when people in authority take a stand, good can come out of it.\" — Jackie Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/jackie-robinson-10820_authority_i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-l_240906.jpg" --- # I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved… ![“I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved to me that when people in authority take a stand, good can come out of it.” quote by Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/jackie-robinson-10820_authority_i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-l_240906.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/jackie-robinson-10820_authority_i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-l_240906.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/jackie-robinson-10820_authority_i-have-always-been-grateful-to-colonel-l_240906.jpg) > “I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. He proved to me that when people in authority take a stand, good can come out of it.” [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect for authority can inspire positive change when leaders act justly. **In simple terms:** Good leaders make a difference. Key Takeaway Support ethical leadership, speak up. Themes leadership justice influence Mood hopeful motivational Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace - community activism - political movements Key Concepts ethical authority social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When have you seen authority used for good? - How can you hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Authority can be abused; vigilance needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/) [Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/) > [You need to tell people where they stand. If someone's done a good job, you should tell them they've done damn well. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meaden/you-need-to-tell-people-where-they-stand-if-someone-s-done-a-good-job/) [Deborah Meaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meaden/) > [At the end of the day, I stand by who I am. I'm a good person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraji-p-henson/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-stand-by-who-i-am-i-m-a-good-person/) [Taraji P. Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraji-p-henson/) > [The fact is, there's good people everywhere. That's what I try and show in my stand-up: good people everywhere. All it takes is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maz-jobrani/the-fact-is-there-s-good-people-everywhere-that-s-what-i-try-and-show/) [Maz Jobrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maz-jobrani/) > [I'm going to stand up for the good name of Mississippi, just like I did for Mike Espy's good name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-m-going-to-stand-up-for-the-good-name-of-mississippi-just-like-i/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [“If you chase after everything at once, you stand a good chance of ending up empty-handed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadahiko-nagao/if-you-chase-after-everything-at-once-you-stand-a-good-chance-of/) [Tadahiko Nagao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadahiko-nagao/) > [It is often the easy choice to do things without thought for others, it takes a man to stand up to do good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-often-the-easy-choice-to-do-things-without-thought-for-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You will stand and see the good, but you will also stand and see the bad—the dead shall rise and the blind will see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/you-will-stand-and-see-the-good-but-you-will-also-stand-and-see-the/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [Stand-up is good therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-griffin/stand-up-is-good-therapy/) [Eddie Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-griffin/) > [If we can’t stand up to the never good enough and who do you think you are? we can’t move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-we-can-t-stand-up-to-the-never-good-enough-and-who-do-you-think/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I did stand-up for a good number of years while I was still living in New York, and those people primarily knew me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samm-levine/i-did-stand-up-for-a-good-number-of-years-while-i-was-still-living-in/) [Samm Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samm-levine/) > [Every revolution took place in a time when the powers of the people in authority were enlarged because of a supposed emergency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/every-revolution-took-place-in-a-time-when-the-powers-of-the-people/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Everywhere in life people are in authority to make decisions and you have to abide by them, whether right or wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasser-hussain/everywhere-in-life-people-are-in-authority-to-make-decisions-and-you/) [Nasser Hussain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nasser-hussain/) > [I have very little hope that any permission can be gained for your organization. However, I shall place it in a special folder with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-louise-strong/i-have-very-little-hope-that-any-permission-can-be-gained-for-your/) [Anna Louise Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-louise-strong/) ## More by Jackie Robinson > [I had to fight hard against loneliness, abuse, and the knowledge that any mistakes I made would be magnified because I was the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-had-to-fight-hard-against-loneliness-abuse-and-the-knowledge-that/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [After two years at UCLA, I decided to leave. I was convinced that no amount of education would help a black man get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/after-two-years-at-ucla-i-decided-to-leave-i-was-convinced-that-no/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Today, Negroes play on every big league club and in every minor league. With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/today-negroes-play-on-every-big-league-club-and-in-every-minor-league/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [In all my years of baseball, I have always expected to be traded. I never liked the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/in-all-my-years-of-baseball-i-have-always-expected-to-be-traded-i/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Pop flies, in a sense, are just a diversion for a second baseman. Grounders are his stock trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/pop-flies-in-a-sense-are-just-a-diversion-for-a-second-baseman/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [If I had been white with the things I did, they never would have allowed me to get out of baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/if-i-had-been-white-with-the-things-i-did-they-never-would-have/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [This ain't fun. But you watch me, I'll get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/this-ain-t-fun-but-you-watch-me-i-ll-get-it-done/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Are you looking for a Negro who won't fight back?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/are-you-looking-for-a-negro-who-won-t-fight-back/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [If I had to choose between baseball’s Hall of Fame and first class citizenship for all of my people. I would say first-class citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/if-i-had-to-choose-between-baseball-s-hall-of-fame-and-first-class/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I cannot possibly believe that I have it made while so many black brothers and sisters are hungry, inadequately housed, insufficiently clothed, denied their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-cannot-possibly-believe-that-i-have-it-made-while-so-many-black/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I don't think that I or any other Negro, as an American citizen, should have to ask for anything that is rightfully his. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-don-t-think-that-i-or-any-other-negro-as-an-american-citizen-should/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/the-right-of-every-american-to-first-class-citizenship-is-the-most/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [It's not easy to be a martyr in the field of race relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/it-s-not-easy-to-be-a-martyr-in-the-field-of-race-relations/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [I do not believe that every person, in every walk of life, can succeed in spite of any handicap. That would be perfection. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/i-do-not-believe-that-every-person-in-every-walk-of-life-can-succeed/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Next time I go to a movie and see a picture of a little ordinary girl become a great star… I’ll believe it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/next-time-i-go-to-a-movie-and-see-a-picture-of-a-little-ordinary-girl/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) [Explore all 63 Jackie Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always been grateful to Colonel Longley. 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