--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think that the world was doing…" description: "\"“I used to think that the world was doing something to me, that the world owed me something. And that either the conservatives or the socialists or the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/john-lennon-322_christianity_i-used-to-think-that-the-world-was-doing_249087.jpg" --- # I used to think that the world was doing something to me… ![“I used to think that the world was doing something to me, that the world owed me something. And that either the conservatives or the socialists or the fascists or the communists or the Christians or the Jews or the fascists were doing something to me. And when you're a teeny-booper, that's what…” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/john-lennon-322_christianity_i-used-to-think-that-the-world-was-doing_249087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/john-lennon-322_christianity_i-used-to-think-that-the-world-was-doing_249087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/john-lennon-322_christianity_i-used-to-think-that-the-world-was-doing_249087.jpg) > ““I used to think that the world was doing something to me, that the world owed me something. And that either the conservatives or the socialists or the fascists or the communists or the Christians or the Jews or the fascists were doing something to me. And when you're a teeny-booper, that's what you think. I'm 40 now, I don't think that anymore—because I found out it doesn't fucking work. I am part of them. There's no separation. Were all one. "Give peace a chance," not "Shoot people for peace." "All you need is love." I believe it. It's damn hard, but I absolutely believe it.”” [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing we share humanity dissolves us‑us thinking; peace requires collective love, not violence. **In simple terms:** We’re all the same; love beats conflict. Key Takeaway Embrace unity and love. Themes peace unity humanity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - activism - conflict resolution - personal growth - community building Key Concepts identity political ideology social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What actions show love in daily life? - How do you confront opposing views peacefully? A Different Perspective Idealism can clash with real‑world complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [“You know...give peace a chance, not shoot people for peace. All we need is love. I believe it. it's damned hard but I absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-norman/you-know-give-peace-a-chance-not-shoot-people-for-peace-all-we-need/) Philip Norman > [I enjoyed it when football crowds in the early days would sing 'All together now' - that was another one. I was also pleased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-enjoyed-it-when-football-crowds-in-the-early-days-would-sing-all/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [We all have Hitler in us, but we also have love and peace. So why not give peace a chance for once?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-all-have-hitler-in-us-but-we-also-have-love-and-peace-so-why-not/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [All we are saying is give peace a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/all-we-are-saying-is-give-peace-a-chance/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ They \[Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz\] will never give peace a chance because they are saying the moment they are elected, the first thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/they-marco-rubio-and-ted-cruz-will-never-give-peace-a-chance-because/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I guess John Lennon had it right: give peace a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-o-donnell/i-guess-john-lennon-had-it-right-give-peace-a-chance/) [Chris O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-o-donnell/) > [Give peace a chance and let's hope that one day we will all live in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/give-peace-a-chance-and-let-s-hope-that-one-day-we-will-all-live-in/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [The Government chose to give peace a chance. The Government chose to do something to achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/the-government-chose-to-give-peace-a-chance-the-government-chose-to/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [“We have given many backward chances to war, hatred, anger and violence to try to fix things in our world. Why not just take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/we-have-given-many-backward-chances-to-war-hatred-anger-and-violence/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [They won't give peace a chance, that's just a dream some of us had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/they-won-t-give-peace-a-chance-that-s-just-a-dream-some-of-us-had/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [“My daily mantra: Give Peace a Chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/my-daily-mantra-give-peace-a-chance/) sir kristian goldmund aumann > [“If we want to help better brighten humanity then...we must all give peace a chance!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/if-we-want-to-help-better-brighten-humanity-then-we-must-all-give/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [I must say that "Give Peace a Chance" has always seemed to me to be sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-must-say-that-give-peace-a-chance-has-always-seemed-to-me-to-be/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Giving peace a chance only gives Saddam Hussein more time to prepare for war on his terms, at a time of his choosing, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/giving-peace-a-chance-only-gives-saddam-hussein-more-time-to-prepare/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Try to reject war and give peace a chance. Question the powers that be and find out why they make the dubious decisions they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/try-to-reject-war-and-give-peace-a-chance-question-the-powers-that-be/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## More by John Lennon > [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) [Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [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/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I used to think that the world was doing something to me, that the world owed me something. And that either the conservatives or the socialists or the fascists or the communists or the Christians or the Jews or the fascists were doing something to me. And when you're a teeny-booper, that's what you think. I'm 40 now, I don't think that anymore—because I found out it doesn't fucking work. I am part of them. There's no separation. Were all one. \"Give peace a chance,\" not \"Shoot people for peace.\" \"All you need is love.\" I believe it. 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