--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only fight worth fighting is to give…" description: "\"The only fight worth fighting is to give all children equal opportunities regardless of race or gender, to judge individuals on their qualities and not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-barnes-2996_abuse_the-only-fight-worth-fighting-is-to-give_1716607.jpg" --- # The only fight worth fighting is to give all children… ![“The only fight worth fighting is to give all children equal opportunities regardless of race or gender, to judge individuals on their qualities and not their backgrounds. The victory won't come when nobody feels able to voice racist abuse, but when nobody thinks of doing so in the first place.” quote by John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-barnes-2996_abuse_the-only-fight-worth-fighting-is-to-give_1716607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-barnes-2996_abuse_the-only-fight-worth-fighting-is-to-give_1716607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-barnes-2996_abuse_the-only-fight-worth-fighting-is-to-give_1716607.jpg) > “The only fight worth fighting is to give all children equal opportunities regardless of race or gender, to judge individuals on their qualities and not their backgrounds. The victory won't come when nobody feels able to voice racist abuse, but when nobody thinks of doing so in the first place.” [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fight is for equal opportunities for children, judged by merit not background, aiming to eradicate racist thoughts before they arise. **In simple terms:** Equality for children, preventing racism at its root. Key Takeaway Promote merit-based fairness. Themes equality justice childhood Mood hopeful serious Type advocacy philosophical When to use this quote - education - policy - parenting Key Concepts social equity prejudice prevention Questions to Reflect On - How to foster unbiased thinking? - What policies ensure equal opportunity? A Different Perspective Changing mindsets is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Every penny from Gossip Girl, my pension, my stocks has been spent fighting for my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rutherford/every-penny-from-gossip-girl-my-pension-my-stocks-has-been-spent/) [Kelly Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rutherford/) > [I don't differentiate between racism in football to racism in life so, therefore, as a football manager I knew that I would get racist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-don-t-differentiate-between-racism-in-football-to-racism-in-life-so/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [People think racist abuse stops on the football pitch, but that's just the beginning. When you go home, you are still confronted with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/people-think-racist-abuse-stops-on-the-football-pitch-but-that-s-just/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [The United States is no longer first in the world in upward mobility. We can reverse that trend by giving our young children an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/the-united-states-is-no-longer-first-in-the-world-in-upward-mobility/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Education and training for all children to be equal in opportunity in all schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions of training in the professions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-long/education-and-training-for-all-children-to-be-equal-in-opportunity-in/) [Huey Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-long/) > [I am a sensitive, emotionally conditioned human being, and I have suffered racist abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/i-am-a-sensitive-emotionally-conditioned-human-being-and-i-have/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [Parikrma aims to give underprivileged children an equal chance at education so they can integrate with kids of private schools and, later, with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shukla-bose/parikrma-aims-to-give-underprivileged-children-an-equal-chance-at/) [Shukla Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shukla-bose/) > [No one should feel comfortable venting racist abuse, whether from the stands or through media outlets. Just as fans must call out any fans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eniola-aluko/no-one-should-feel-comfortable-venting-racist-abuse-whether-from-the/) [Eniola Aluko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eniola-aluko/) > [“What sorts of people dig up a black grandparent and then demand special privileges? What does it mean when these same people spew racist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-greenfield/what-sorts-of-people-dig-up-a-black-grandparent-and-then-demand/) Daniel Greenfield > [For mother all children are at equal place as before God His entire creature has equal rights and status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-mother-all-children-are-at-equal-place-as-before-god-his-entire/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Children are to be born into a family where the parents hold the needs of children equal to their own in importance. And children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/children-are-to-be-born-into-a-family-where-the-parents-hold-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [All children should have equal opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-ponta/all-children-should-have-equal-opportunities/) [Victor Ponta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-ponta/) > [The parents have not only to train their children: it is of at least equal importance that they should train themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/the-parents-have-not-only-to-train-their-children-it-is-of-at-least/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [When I started at Portsmouth in 1974 there was a strong National Front element in the crowd and they would abuse me even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kamara/when-i-started-at-portsmouth-in-1974-there-was-a-strong-national/) [Chris Kamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kamara/) > [I have received some racist abuse, but you will never see me fighting back or being aggressive on Twitter. When I do reply, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-shah/i-have-received-some-racist-abuse-but-you-will-never-see-me-fighting/) [Nadine Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-shah/) ## More by John Barnes > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [For a long time, images of black men with big lips and a round head were used to make us feel inferior, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/for-a-long-time-images-of-black-men-with-big-lips-and-a-round-head/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Normally when you look at the Ballon d'Or winners, they're either attacking midfield players or centre-forwards. They are goalscorers and eye-catching players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/normally-when-you-look-at-the-ballon-d-or-winners-they-re-either/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [This is not the way these tales end," Calliope said firmly. "This is not the way that things end when they get to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/this-is-not-the-way-these-tales-end-calliope-said-firmly-this-is-not/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [“Where did you find construction guys swapping dirty jokes in proto-Númenorean?” Aura asked. “On construction sites. Is that coffee ready?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/where-did-you-find-construction-guys-swapping-dirty-jokes-in-proto-n/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Young English managers don't get enough time, young black managers aren't given enough time, there are a lot of reasons why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/young-english-managers-don-t-get-enough-time-young-black-managers/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I felt I had to take the Celtic opportunity. You quickly learn that any managerial vacancy attracts up to 60 or 70 applicants, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-felt-i-had-to-take-the-celtic-opportunity-you-quickly-learn-that/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [You have to give 100 per cent in every game and you cannot give more than 100 per cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/you-have-to-give-100-per-cent-in-every-game-and-you-cannot-give-more/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [African society and culture varies much more than European society but it's just considered 'Africa' as if they are all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/african-society-and-culture-varies-much-more-than-european-society/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [“By noon everyone had heard that I had spent the night with Marti in a hotel room and when the cops came by, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/by-noon-everyone-had-heard-that-i-had-spent-the-night-with-marti-in-a/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Football is all about scoring goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/football-is-all-about-scoring-goals/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [“Ah. Well, it stands for Freedom From Morality. We don't think healthy amorality happens naturally." "But you're not amoral," I pointed out. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/ah-well-it-stands-for-freedom-from-morality-we-don-t-think-healthy/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I'm a real meat eater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-m-a-real-meat-eater/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Race, for me, should be social and cultural, rather than the colour of your skin. Anton Ferdinand would have more in common with John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/race-for-me-should-be-social-and-cultural-rather-than-the-colour-of/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [The truth is that those at the top of British football do not care about getting rid of racism, they just don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/the-truth-is-that-those-at-the-top-of-british-football-do-not-care/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) [Explore all 143 John Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only fight worth fighting is to give all children equal opportunities regardless of race or gender, to judge individuals on their qualities and not their backgrounds. 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