Faith Quote by Jen Hatmaker
““Let no one be discouraged by the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills—against misery and ignorance, injustice and violence. . . . Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. . . . It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.—Robert F. Kennedy18””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks at the University of Kansas, 1968
Individual actions, however small, collectively shape history and can overcome massive oppression.
In simple terms: Small acts add up to big change.
Key Takeaway
Act now, no matter how modest.
Themes
courage
social change
collective impact
hope
activism
Mood
inspirational
determined
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Community organizing
- civil rights protests
- volunteer work
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Ripple effect
grassroots movements
historical agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What small action can you take today?
- How do many tiny efforts become powerful?
A Different Perspective
Large systemic change also needs structural reforms, not just individual acts.
