--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words have consequences, and I judge…" description: "\"Words have consequences, and I judge people not only by their words but what they do. And if you look at people who have a pattern, who've built a care..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/joan-walsh-anglund-19798_african-american_words-have-consequences-and-i-judge-peop_1723368.png" --- # Words have consequences, and I judge people not only by… ![“Words have consequences, and I judge people not only by their words but what they do. And if you look at people who have a pattern, who've built a career out of dividing people and who built a career out of often not just Obama but finding ways to degrade and diminish African-Americans and…” quote by Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/joan-walsh-anglund-19798_african-american_words-have-consequences-and-i-judge-peop_1723368.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/joan-walsh-anglund-19798_african-american_words-have-consequences-and-i-judge-peop_1723368.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/816/joan-walsh-anglund-19798_african-american_words-have-consequences-and-i-judge-peop_1723368.png) > “Words have consequences, and I judge people not only by their words but what they do. And if you look at people who have a pattern, who've built a career out of dividing people and who built a career out of often not just Obama but finding ways to degrade and diminish African-Americans and African-American leaders. It's racist to consistently make your living on the backs of black people.” [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words reflect actions; judging people requires looking at deeds and patterns, especially regarding racism. **In simple terms:** Judge people by actions, not just words. Key Takeaway Consider both speech and behavior. Themes racism justice accountability Mood critical serious Type analytical ethical When to use this quote - political analysis - social media critique - activism - education - policy making Key Concepts systemic oppression ethical judgment Questions to Reflect On - How can we assess character fairly? - What role do words play in systemic harm? A Different Perspective The statement may generalize individuals without nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) ## Related quotes > [Women, who are the prime victims of religion, and perhaps in some, stockholm syndrome effect, often form the most fervent advocates of the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-chapman/women-who-are-the-prime-victims-of-religion-and-perhaps-in-some/) Matthew Chapman > [“Words have consequences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-marrin/words-have-consequences/) [Albert Marrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-marrin/) > [I know words sometimes have consequences, but I try to choose the correct words every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-pique/i-know-words-sometimes-have-consequences-but-i-try-to-choose-the/) [Gerard Pique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-pique/) > [I think words have consequences, and I think actions have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-frazier/i-think-words-have-consequences-and-i-think-actions-have-consequences/) [Kenneth Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-frazier/) > [Sometimes, words have consequences you don't intend them to mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/sometimes-words-have-consequences-you-don-t-intend-them-to-mean/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Politicians need to realise that words have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/politicians-need-to-realise-that-words-have-consequences/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [“Words have meaning beyond the obvious. Words have consequences beyond intentions. Civil words align risk and reward of such unknowns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-dallas-jr/words-have-meaning-beyond-the-obvious-words-have-consequences-beyond/) [John R. Dallas Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-dallas-jr/) > [“Freedom of speech means setting words free. Imprisoned and freed words are consequential. All words have consequences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-dallas-jr/freedom-of-speech-means-setting-words-free-imprisoned-and-freed-words/) [John R. Dallas Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-dallas-jr/) > [ These two guys \[Donald Trump and Chris Christie\] kinds find each other. They love each other. They were playing let's spend the night together… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/these-two-guys-donald-trump-and-chris-christie-kinds-find-each-other/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/people-must-again-learn-to-work-instead-of-living-on-public-assistance/) [Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/) > [If living on fruits and water is of superior merit, monkeys and fish will go to heaven before men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meera/if-living-on-fruits-and-water-is-of-superior-merit-monkeys-and-fish/) [Meera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meera/) > [I was pretty poor for a long time. Not \*poor\* poor. But college student poor. I lived for most of my adult life living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-was-pretty-poor-for-a-long-time-not-poor-poor-but-college-student/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Imagine: you've spent all day traipsing round London, lost in a maze of chaos, trying to find a hidden illusion; you've been living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brooks/imagine-you-ve-spent-all-day-traipsing-round-london-lost-in-a-maze-of/) [Kevin Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brooks/) > [I am living on hope and faith ... a pretty good diet when the mind will receive them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/i-am-living-on-hope-and-faith-a-pretty-good-diet-when-the-mind-will/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) ## More by Joan Walsh Anglund > [Friendship is like a rose. . . opening one petal at a time, only as it unfolds. . . day by day it reveals its true beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/friendship-is-like-a-rose-opening-one-petal-at-a-time-only-as-it/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [“A bird doesn't sing because he has an answer-he sings because he has a song.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/a-bird-doesn-t-sing-because-he-has-an-answer-he-sings-because-he-has/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [ Chris Christie was going to save the party from a figure like \[Donald\] Trump. He was going to save the party. That didn't happen.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/chris-christie-was-going-to-save-the-party-from-a-figure-like-donald/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [ In the history of this country \[USA\], the reason we have never developed a social democratic base, the way they have in Europe -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/in-the-history-of-this-country-usa-the-reason-we-have-never-developed/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [The only educational aspect of television is that it puts the repair man's kids through college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/the-only-educational-aspect-of-television-is-that-it-puts-the-repair/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [Friendships begin because, even without words, we understand how someone feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/friendships-begin-because-even-without-words-we-understand-how/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [A poet wants only one small stone on which to carve his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/a-poet-wants-only-one-small-stone-on-which-to-carve-his-life/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [Peace is the harvest of love as war is the fruit of hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/peace-is-the-harvest-of-love-as-war-is-the-fruit-of-hate/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [We dwell in shadow or in sunlight . . . according to our belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/we-dwell-in-shadow-or-in-sunlight-according-to-our-belief/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [The best way to help yourself is to help someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/the-best-way-to-help-yourself-is-to-help-someone-else/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [ These two guys \[Donald Trump and Chris Christie\] kinds find each other. They love each other. They were playing let's spend the night together… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/these-two-guys-donald-trump-and-chris-christie-kinds-find-each-other/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [Do not be sad that you have suffered, be glad that you have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/do-not-be-sad-that-you-have-suffered-be-glad-that-you-have-lived/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [A brook can be a friend in a special way. It talks to you with splashy gurgles. It cools your toes and lets you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/a-brook-can-be-a-friend-in-a-special-way-it-talks-to-you-with-splashy/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [Faith is the staff that will support you over the rockiest terrain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/faith-is-the-staff-that-will-support-you-over-the-rockiest-terrain/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) > [Color is something we see with our eyes, but love is something we see with our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-walsh-anglund/color-is-something-we-see-with-our-eyes-but-love-is-something-we-see/) [Joan Walsh Anglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) [Explore all 32 Joan Walsh Anglund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-walsh-anglund/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. 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Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. 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