--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is that people are pulling…" description: "\"The problem is that people are pulling farther apart, rather than make an effort to get back together. There have been remarkable moments that united t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-lithgow-2438_barack_the-problem-is-that-people-are-pulling-f_2983949.jpg" --- # The problem is that people are pulling farther apart… ![“The problem is that people are pulling farther apart, rather than make an effort to get back together. There have been remarkable moments that united this country. It makes everyone feel relieved. Then because of economic stress, political shifts, we get wrenched apart again. I think it's…” quote by John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-lithgow-2438_barack_the-problem-is-that-people-are-pulling-f_2983949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-lithgow-2438_barack_the-problem-is-that-people-are-pulling-f_2983949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/john-lithgow-2438_barack_the-problem-is-that-people-are-pulling-f_2983949.jpg) > “The problem is that people are pulling farther apart, rather than make an effort to get back together. There have been remarkable moments that united this country. It makes everyone feel relieved. Then because of economic stress, political shifts, we get wrenched apart again. I think it's cyclical. I am an optimist by nature. There are moments, the period after 9/11, the way we responded. The election of Barack Obama. There are moments where the country felt good about being American. I'm waiting for that to happen again.” [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal divisions ebb and flow, driven by stress and politics, yet moments of unity recur, offering hope for future reconciliation. **In simple terms:** People drift apart but can reunite during hopeful times. Key Takeaway Seek common ground during crises. Themes politics economics social cohesion optimism history Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational political When to use this quote - elections - national crises - community rebuilding - public discourse Key Concepts cyclical tension collective identity resilience Questions to Reflect On - What actions can foster lasting unity? - How to sustain hopeful moments? A Different Perspective Unity can be fragile and requires active effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [That rock and roll, eh? That rock and roll, it just won't go away. 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Because every second feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/all-i-do-when-we-re-apart-is-think-about-you-and-all-i-do-when-we-re-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“All I do when we're apart is think about you, and all I do when we're together is panic. Because every second feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/all-i-do-when-we-re-apart-is-think-about-you-and-all-i-do-when-we-re/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I wouldn't be so bold as to say that what we're doing is what sets us apart from everyone, I think that's for everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-c-miller/i-wouldn-t-be-so-bold-as-to-say-that-what-we-re-doing-is-what-sets-us/) [Jason C. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-c-miller/) > [I've been reading about the idea of cyclical lives - it matches up to the idea of string theory and a multiverse. 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They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. 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In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem is that people are pulling farther apart, rather than make an effort to get back together. There have been remarkable moments that united this country. It makes everyone feel relieved. Then because of economic stress, political shifts, we get wrenched apart again. I think it's cyclical. I am an optimist by nature. There are moments, the period after 9/11, the way we responded. The election of Barack Obama. There are moments where the country felt good about being American. 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