--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's not enough for us to extend…" description: "\"I think it's not enough for us to extend the hand of love. I think it's important that that goes both ways. It's important also that we look at policie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/john-legend-1666_enough_i-think-it-s-not-enough-for-us-to-extend_3186382.jpg" --- # I think it's not enough for us to extend the hand of love… ![“I think it's not enough for us to extend the hand of love. I think it's important that that goes both ways. It's important also that we look at policies we need to change as well.” quote by John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/john-legend-1666_enough_i-think-it-s-not-enough-for-us-to-extend_3186382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/john-legend-1666_enough_i-think-it-s-not-enough-for-us-to-extend_3186382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/john-legend-1666_enough_i-think-it-s-not-enough-for-us-to-extend_3186382.jpg) > “I think it's not enough for us to extend the hand of love. I think it's important that that goes both ways. It's important also that we look at policies we need to change as well.” [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love must be reciprocal and supported by fair policies, not just one‑sided gestures. **In simple terms:** Love needs mutual effort and policy change. Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable policies alongside personal compassion. Themes love reciprocity social justice Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational activist When to use this quote - community organizing - legislative advocacy - relationship counseling - nonprofit work Key Concepts equity policy reform mutual responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal love with activism? - What policies need your voice most? A Different Perspective One‑sided love can still perpetuate systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Need a change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-a-change/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Extend a hand whether or not you know it shall be grasped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryunosuke-satoro/extend-a-hand-whether-or-not-you-know-it-shall-be-grasped/) [Ryunosuke Satoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryunosuke-satoro/) > [“extend your hand to help other,s but don't expect anything back from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guraisha/extend-your-hand-to-help-other-s-but-don-t-expect-anything-back-from/) Guraisha > [“all I have to do is extend my hand but I can't run that far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/all-i-have-to-do-is-extend-my-hand-but-i-can-t-run-that-far/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [Long-lived persons have one or two lines which extend through the whole hand; short-lived persons have two lines not extending through the whole hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/long-lived-persons-have-one-or-two-lines-which-extend-through-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [We have got to extend the hand of friendship, we have got to take the peacelines down brick by brick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ervine/we-have-got-to-extend-the-hand-of-friendship-we-have-got-to-take-the/) David Ervine > [Primarily, we need to change 100 years of thinking, where we try to extend the promise of American life by moving things to Washington,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/primarily-we-need-to-change-100-years-of-thinking-where-we-try-to/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [If there is anything in your life that takes away your happiness, you have all the power you need to change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/if-there-is-anything-in-your-life-that-takes-away-your-happiness-you/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [The answers to our questions are everywhere; we just need to change the lens with which we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/the-answers-to-our-questions-are-everywhere-we-just-need-to-change/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [Congressmen are like diapers - You need to change them often, and for the same reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-mccloskey/congressmen-are-like-diapers-you-need-to-change-them-often-and-for/) [Pete McCloskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-mccloskey/) > [I used to be very quick, I would be able to leave the room and be back before you noticed. When you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-used-to-be-very-quick-i-would-be-able-to-leave-the-room-and-be-back/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [If you are going to do TPS you must do it all the way. You also need to change the way you think. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/if-you-are-going-to-do-tps-you-must-do-it-all-the-way-you-also-need/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [I want to know if you are prepared to live in the world with its harsh need to change you. If you can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/i-want-to-know-if-you-are-prepared-to-live-in-the-world-with-its/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [ I'm willing to engage or indulge real ideas, but if we don't do something \[about global warming\], we're all going to die! What's it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-m-willing-to-engage-or-indulge-real-ideas-but-if-we-don-t-do/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [In order to change the direction of this country, we need to change presidents. Americans need a conservative businessman to get this economy moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/in-order-to-change-the-direction-of-this-country-we-need-to-change/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Everything you now do is something you have chosen to do. Some people don't want to believe that. But if you're over age twenty-one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/everything-you-now-do-is-something-you-have-chosen-to-do-some-people/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More by John Legend > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I guess a lot of times pressure is put on something after it becomes big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-guess-a-lot-of-times-pressure-is-put-on-something-after-it-becomes/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [My first album, 'Get Lifted,' was a hip-hop soul album that had some of its roots in the church, as far as the sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/my-first-album-get-lifted-was-a-hip-hop-soul-album-that-had-some-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I don't like going to football games. I like watching them on television. When you go to a game, it's hard to focus. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-don-t-like-going-to-football-games-i-like-watching-them-on/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [There's a lot of hurry up and wait. But it gives you time to write a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/there-s-a-lot-of-hurry-up-and-wait-but-it-gives-you-time-to-write-a/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Fear. People are afraid of talking about their fears and insecurities. They're afraid of expressing emotion beyond anger, dominance, or power, and they're afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/fear-people-are-afraid-of-talking-about-their-fears-and-insecurities/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [When I write, I don't really focus on duets or anything like that, or whether I'm going to feature this or that rapper. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/when-i-write-i-don-t-really-focus-on-duets-or-anything-like-that-or/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I would tell myself, "Love yourself and don't be afraid to take risks." I was often afraid to take risks, socially, because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-would-tell-myself-love-yourself-and-don-t-be-afraid-to-take-risks-i/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I never went through a period where I didn't want to play music. I've always loved it and it's always been a huge part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-never-went-through-a-period-where-i-didn-t-want-to-play-music-i-ve/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [All men should be feminists. If men cared about women's rights, the world would be a better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/all-men-should-be-feminists-if-men-cared-about-women-s-rights-the/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I used read about Dr. King a lot as a kid. Independently, from being assigned it or being told by my parents or anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-used-read-about-dr-king-a-lot-as-a-kid-independently-from-being/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [“All men should be feminists. If men care about women’s rights the world will be a better place. We are better off when women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/all-men-should-be-feminists-if-men-care-about-women-s-rights-the/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Experience is a great teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/experience-is-a-great-teacher/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [This ain't a movie no. No fairy tale conclusion ya'll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/this-ain-t-a-movie-no-no-fairy-tale-conclusion-ya-ll/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) [Explore all 218 John Legend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) ## More Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I've been lucky enough to, for the most part, surround myself with a lot of people who are more talented than me and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-for-the-most-part-surround-myself-with-a/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) Browse all 23,898 Enough quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's not enough for us to extend the hand of love. I think it's important that that goes both ways. 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