--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, the things like the Confederate…" description: "\"For me, the things like the Confederate flag - I just don't think that it does anybody much good, and it certainly causes a lot of people a lot of pain..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg" --- # For me, the things like the Confederate flag - I just… ![“For me, the things like the Confederate flag - I just don't think that it does anybody much good, and it certainly causes a lot of people a lot of pain.” quote by Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg) > “For me, the things like the Confederate flag - I just don't think that it does anybody much good, and it certainly causes a lot of people a lot of pain.” [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Confederate flag symbolizes pain and division, offering little benefit. **In simple terms:** The flag causes pain. Key Takeaway Avoid symbols that divide. Themes history identity pain Mood reflective somber Type cultural political When to use this quote - public gatherings - educational settings - media coverage Key Concepts symbolism social conflict Questions to Reflect On - Why do people cling to divisive symbols? - Can we replace them with unifying ones? A Different Perspective May ignore historical context for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confederate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) [Confederate flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate-flag/) [Flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flag/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The only reason we used the Confederate flag was just because we were from the South, and we were proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/the-only-reason-we-used-the-confederate-flag-was-just-because-we-were/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [I do not like the Confederate flag. It excludes me, profoundly. And if many good people fought honorably to defend it, I still experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/i-do-not-like-the-confederate-flag-it-excludes-me-profoundly-and-if/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [We know that the elements in play in a show like 'Confederate' are much more raw, much more real, and people come into them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-know-that-the-elements-in-play-in-a-show-like-confederate-are-much/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [I think that it's appropriate to have the Confederate flag perhaps in a museum, but it is not a unifying symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-think-that-it-s-appropriate-to-have-the-confederate-flag-perhaps-in/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [ \[Confederate flag\] it's a symbol of racial hatred. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/confederate-flag-it-s-a-symbol-of-racial-hatred/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I think the ties to slavery and the terrible tragedy that followed the Civil War with Jim Crow and racial violence is closely linked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-ferris/i-think-the-ties-to-slavery-and-the-terrible-tragedy-that-followed/) [William R. Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-ferris/) > [For black folks, the Confederate flag represents the same thing that the Nazi flag represents to the Jews. There is absolutely no difference when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-page/for-black-folks-the-confederate-flag-represents-the-same-thing-that/) Ken Page > [The people that don't want change, the ones that don't see how removing Confederate flag creates so much more opportunities for our sport to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/the-people-that-don-t-want-change-the-ones-that-don-t-see-how/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [Now, that doesn't mean that individuals can't have Confederate flags on their property. They have the right to do that. But again, it represents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/now-that-doesn-t-mean-that-individuals-can-t-have-confederate-flags/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I don't fly the Confederate flag on my property, but I'm not going to try to belittle or embarrass anybody who wants to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/i-don-t-fly-the-confederate-flag-on-my-property-but-i-m-not-going-to/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) > [Anyone who says the Confederate Flag is a symbol of hate should be required to go to sensitivity training classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezola-b-foster/anyone-who-says-the-confederate-flag-is-a-symbol-of-hate-should-be/) Ezola B. Foster > [I live in the South; there are Confederate flags everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-live-in-the-south-there-are-confederate-flags-everywhere/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [In South Carolina, the Confederate flag flies high on countless flagpoles. Those who defend this practice by saying it is part of Southern culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/in-south-carolina-the-confederate-flag-flies-high-on-countless/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [ It's time for the \[Confederate\] Flag to come down, because it just doesn't represent who we are as a people, as Americans anymore. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hunter/it-s-time-for-the-confederate-flag-to-come-down-because-it-just-doesn/) Jack Hunter > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/south-carolina-as-a-matter-of-compromise-displays-the-confederate/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) ## More by Jason Isbell > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The Police could get away with doing an entire record with really no audible reverb, which I have always admired and thought would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-police-could-get-away-with-doing-an-entire-record-with-really-no/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I think great songs appeal to people at any age. Kids love the Beatles, too. Kids love Tom T. Hall. Of course, Tom T.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-great-songs-appeal-to-people-at-any-age-kids-love-the-beatles/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [Democracy can tie your hands in a rock 'n' roll band, you know? It can be a great thing, but if you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/democracy-can-tie-your-hands-in-a-rock-n-roll-band-you-know-it-can-be/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [If you're the person whose problems were solved when you were born, your job is to try and help the people who aren't in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/if-you-re-the-person-whose-problems-were-solved-when-you-were-born/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I like not having to worry about paying the bills, but I have to watch myself because I don't come from money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-like-not-having-to-worry-about-paying-the-bills-but-i-have-to-watch/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [A lot of people in Nashville think that the best song is the catchiest or the one that sells the most copies. They're editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/a-lot-of-people-in-nashville-think-that-the-best-song-is-the/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The world changes fast, and a lot of the old country folks have a hard time keeping up with it, and it makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-world-changes-fast-and-a-lot-of-the-old-country-folks-have-a-hard/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The more you read, the better you are at writing, no matter what you're writing. A lot of songwriters miss that and don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-more-you-read-the-better-you-are-at-writing-no-matter-what-you-re/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [The idea of growing up in the South and being a man is an interesting thing; there's a lot masculinity involved, with hunting, fishing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/the-idea-of-growing-up-in-the-south-and-being-a-man-is-an-interesting/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think I'm a country artist, really. I'm a country person, but I don't think I'm necessarily a country singer or musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-country-artist-really-i-m-a-country-person-but-i/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I like those kinds of songs that have details that you remember and that have stories that mean something and that open up into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-like-those-kinds-of-songs-that-have-details-that-you-remember-and/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [Man, that Jim Lauderdale always looks good - he's got more western suits than anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/man-that-jim-lauderdale-always-looks-good-he-s-got-more-western-suits/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I'm not a big AA guy, but I'll go every once in a while. They do tell you that going out and helping other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-m-not-a-big-aa-guy-but-i-ll-go-every-once-in-a-while-they-do-tell/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [My dad, he worries a bit, usually with good reason. There were quite a few years there where he was probably trying to resign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/my-dad-he-worries-a-bit-usually-with-good-reason-there-were-quite-a/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) [Explore all 128 Jason Isbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) ## More Confederate quotes > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/south-carolina-as-a-matter-of-compromise-displays-the-confederate/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) > [What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/what-i-m-talking-about-is-more-than-recompense-for-past-injustices/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [When you come to Montgomery, you see fifty-nine monuments and memorials, all about the Civil War, all about Confederate leaders and generals. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/when-you-come-to-montgomery-you-see-fifty-nine-monuments-and/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [Its foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-h-stephens/its-foundations-are-laid-its-cornerstone-rests-upon-the-great-truth/) [Alexander H. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-h-stephens/) > [“An estimated 400 women disguised themselves as men to fight in the Civil War. Many were like Amy Clarke, who enlisted so she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/an-estimated-400-women-disguised-themselves-as-men-to-fight-in-the/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [“A rump group of rebel soldiers formed a colony west of Vera Cruz called Carlota, which soon burgeoned into a community of five thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/a-rump-group-of-rebel-soldiers-formed-a-colony-west-of-vera-cruz/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [What do you call a co-worker these days? Neither teammate nor confederate will do, and partner is too legalistic. The answer brought from academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/what-do-you-call-a-co-worker-these-days-neither-teammate-nor/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/we-are-all-naturally-seekers-of-wonders-we-travel-far-to-see-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [ It's time for the \[Confederate\] Flag to come down, because it just doesn't represent who we are as a people, as Americans anymore. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hunter/it-s-time-for-the-confederate-flag-to-come-down-because-it-just-doesn/) Jack Hunter > [...So Englishmen saw it. Lincoln's insincerity was regarded as proven by two things: his earlier denial of any lawful right or wish to free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-vanauken/so-englishmen-saw-it-lincoln-s-insincerity-was-regarded-as-proven-by/) [Sheldon Vanauken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-vanauken/) > [In a landscape littered with all of this imagery about the nobility of the Civil War and the Confederate effort and struggle, the absence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/in-a-landscape-littered-with-all-of-this-imagery-about-the-nobility/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [Disagreeing with the fervent patriotism of the Confederates: "I think it's hard winning a war with words, gentlemen. . . . I'm saying very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/disagreeing-with-the-fervent-patriotism-of-the-confederates-i-think/) [Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/) > [“As he reached the slight elevation he beheld the Confederate army sweeping down upon him. Their skirmish line fired at him, killing his orderly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-olney/as-he-reached-the-slight-elevation-he-beheld-the-confederate-army/) Warren Olney > [In South Carolina, the Confederate flag flies high on countless flagpoles. Those who defend this practice by saying it is part of Southern culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/in-south-carolina-the-confederate-flag-flies-high-on-countless/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [It's hard when the worst people in the country are cheering, the people with the confederate flag, the people that do anti-Semitism on Twitter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/it-s-hard-when-the-worst-people-in-the-country-are-cheering-the/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) [Browse all 186 Confederate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me, the things like the Confederate flag - I just don't think that it does anybody much good, and it certainly causes a lot of people a lot of pain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason Isbell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-flag-i-just-don-t-think-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confederate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-flag-i-just-don-t-think-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59e/jason-isbell-3520_confederate_for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-f_784670.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For me, the things like the Confederate flag - I just don't think that it does anybody much good, and it…” — Jason Isbell", "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": "Jason Isbell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For me, the things like the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-flag-i-just-don-t-think-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/for-me-the-things-like-the-confederate-flag-i-just-don-t-think-that/#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 } } ] } ```