--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've no desire to start a movement, to be…" description: "\"I've no desire to start a movement, to be the first name on an open petition, or to be the poster child for disgruntled writers.\" — John Ridley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg" --- # I've no desire to start a movement, to be the first name… ![“I've no desire to start a movement, to be the first name on an open petition, or to be the poster child for disgruntled writers.” quote by John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg) > “I've no desire to start a movement, to be the first name on an open petition, or to be the poster child for disgruntled writers.” [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I refuse to become a symbol for discontented writers; I prefer anonymity over fame. **In simple terms:** I avoid being a poster child for angry writers. Key Takeaway Stay true, avoid unwanted fame. Themes anonymity integrity creative freedom Mood thoughtful defiant Type personal political When to use this quote - publishing - activism - media campaigns - award ceremonies Key Concepts ethics celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - When is anonymity beneficial? - How does visibility affect your message? A Different Perspective Silence may limit influence for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Petition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petition/) [Petitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/petitions/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The Petition of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Chapman Johnson, Joseph C. Cabell, James Breckenridge, John Hartwell Cocke, and Robert Taylor the Rector and Visitors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-petition-of-thomas-jefferson-james-madison-chapman-johnson-joseph/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Men should not petition for rights, but take them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/men-should-not-petition-for-rights-but-take-them/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The Normans came over, lance in hand, burning and trampling down every thing before them, and cutting off the Saxon dynasty and the Saxon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-cushing/the-normans-came-over-lance-in-hand-burning-and-trampling-down-every/) [Caleb Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-cushing/) > [“And I understood that I ought not ask for a prayer language until I could ask without making it the test of my entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-f-winner/and-i-understood-that-i-ought-not-ask-for-a-prayer-language-until-i/) [Lauren F. Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-f-winner/) > [What Bill Clinton did to us was cruel. The White House gave my attorneys indications that there was a good chance for my clemency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/what-bill-clinton-did-to-us-was-cruel-the-white-house-gave-my/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [If out of concern over cloning, the U.S. Congress succeeds in criminalizing embryonic stem-cell research that might bring treatments for Alzheimer's disease or diabetes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-stock/if-out-of-concern-over-cloning-the-u-s-congress-succeeds-in/) [Gregory Stock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-stock/) > [I think there was a petition online to get me involved in Doctor Who. Im not a Doctor Who fanatic, but I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/i-think-there-was-a-petition-online-to-get-me-involved-in-doctor-who/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [Be the responsibility on their heads who raise this novel and extraordinary question of reception, going to the unconstitutional abridgment, as I conceive, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-cushing/be-the-responsibility-on-their-heads-who-raise-this-novel-and/) [Caleb Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-cushing/) > [A petition to have Justin Bieber deported got over 100,000 signatures, which means the White House now has to legally rule on it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/a-petition-to-have-justin-bieber-deported-got-over-100-000-signatures/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [We put together a one-sentence petition asking Congress to censure President Clinton and move on to other pressing issues. We sent it to under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-blades/we-put-together-a-one-sentence-petition-asking-congress-to-censure/) [Joan Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-blades/) > [When we have 13,000 Americans living on the moon, they can petition to become a state,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/when-we-have-13-000-americans-living-on-the-moon-they-can-petition-to/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“But we have to go further than we thought possible. It's not enough to just sign a signature or click something online. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-potter/but-we-have-to-go-further-than-we-thought-possible-it-s-not-enough-to/) Will Potter > [“Thank you Heavenly Father. You heard my petition. You have answered my plea. May your name be glorified and be praised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/thank-you-heavenly-father-you-heard-my-petition-you-have-answered-my/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [It's called 'I Wanna Thank You,' and I'm encouraging everybody out there to blog, Tweet, Facebook, anything about it. Let's sign a petition. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-tip/it-s-called-i-wanna-thank-you-and-i-m-encouraging-everybody-out-there/) [Q-Tip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-tip/) ## More by John Ridley > [The hypocrisy and false piety of the deniers aside, the relationships of gays have no effect on heteros. Especially all the heteros who've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/the-hypocrisy-and-false-piety-of-the-deniers-aside-the-relationships/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [While most trudge through their days straight-jacketed in the social compact, living for others as much as or more than for themselves, a select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/while-most-trudge-through-their-days-straight-jacketed-in-the-social/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Why is it that the very people who have fought so hard and so long for the simple entitlement to love whom they choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/why-is-it-that-the-very-people-who-have-fought-so-hard-and-so-long/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [There are any number of very hard working people in Hollywood who deserve recognition. Mostly its the artisans and crafts persons - the 'below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/there-are-any-number-of-very-hard-working-people-in-hollywood-who/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/for-children-diversity-needs-to-be-real-and-not-merely-relegated-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Just mention the idea of warrantless wiretaps and expect to get hit up with a congressional investigation. But give somebody an avatar and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/just-mention-the-idea-of-warrantless-wiretaps-and-expect-to-get-hit/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [As long as we remain committed to holding high our individuals of supreme finish, others will be inspired to loose themselves of the gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-long-as-we-remain-committed-to-holding-high-our-individuals-of/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [When people come in the door and they have something, discovering and exploring the character is a real joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/when-people-come-in-the-door-and-they-have-something-discovering-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Fact is, awards shows were never really about recognizing achievement. They were a publicity ploy cooked up in the late 1920s by MGM topper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/fact-is-awards-shows-were-never-really-about-recognizing-achievement/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I love graphic novels - I love reading them, I enjoyed writing them, I would love to go back and do them again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-love-graphic-novels-i-love-reading-them-i-enjoyed-writing-them-i/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [So, is Hollywood anti-religion? Not in my opinion. But unlike, say, politicians and preachers who talk faith before going off to speak in tongues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/so-is-hollywood-anti-religion-not-in-my-opinion-but-unlike-say/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I didn't know I was a good director, and I mean that sincerely. I had done a film a long time ago called 'Cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-didn-t-know-i-was-a-good-director-and-i-mean-that-sincerely-i-had/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtue-of-his-being-barack-obama/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Explore all 116 John Ridley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ## More Be the first quotes > [I thought I'd be the first to introduce herbal tea to Patna. White tea, ginger tea, rooibos, camomile. No one touched it. On subsequent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/i-thought-i-d-be-the-first-to-introduce-herbal-tea-to-patna-white-tea/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) > [I wanna be myself and be the first Jason Jordan. I don't wanna be the second Kurt Angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jordan/i-wanna-be-myself-and-be-the-first-jason-jordan-i-don-t-wanna-be-the/) [Jason Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jordan/) > [As a big, you don't want to be the first one to shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevon-looney/as-a-big-you-don-t-want-to-be-the-first-one-to-shoot/) [Kevon Looney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevon-looney/) > [I'll be the first to say our military should always be fully funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-boebert/i-ll-be-the-first-to-say-our-military-should-always-be-fully-funded/) [Lauren Boebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-boebert/) > [Of course, I want to be the first pick. That's every kids' dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/of-course-i-want-to-be-the-first-pick-that-s-every-kids-dream/) [Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/) > [My mother had a saying: 'Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you're not the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/my-mother-had-a-saying-kamala-you-may-be-the-first-to-do-many-things/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [Hublot has always been happy to be different, unique and they want to be the first to do things - and they certainly have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clarke/hublot-has-always-been-happy-to-be-different-unique-and-they-want-to/) [Michael Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clarke/) > [You can be anything. You could be the President of the United States or the inventor of the next Internet or a ninja cardio-thoracic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/you-can-be-anything-you-could-be-the-president-of-the-united-states/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [I would sacrifice 1,000 yards rushing to win a Super Bowl. But I want to be the first back to have back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-peterson/i-would-sacrifice-1-000-yards-rushing-to-win-a-super-bowl-but-i-want/) [Adrian Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-peterson/) > [India, Pakistan, China, Singapore and South Korea are heavily investing in nuclear arms. Since 21st century is the century of Asia, Asian countries should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/india-pakistan-china-singapore-and-south-korea-are-heavily-investing/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [It's a real honour to be the first comedian to play the O2 which will be the single biggest gig of my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/it-s-a-real-honour-to-be-the-first-comedian-to-play-the-o2-which-will/) [Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/) > [To be the first to do something is huge - all eyes are on you. 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Gomez, Benitez, there have been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cotto/to-be-the-first-puerto-rican-to-win-a-world-title-in-four-divisions/) [Miguel Cotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cotto/) Browse all 191 Be the first quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've no desire to start a movement, to be the first name on an open petition, or to be the poster child for disgruntled writers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be-the-first-name-on-an-open/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be the first" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be-the-first-name-on-an-open/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/john-ridley-4100_be-the-first_i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be_1736114.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've no desire to start a movement, to be the first name on an open petition, or to be the poster child for…” — John Ridley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ridley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've no desire to start a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be-the-first-name-on-an-open/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-ve-no-desire-to-start-a-movement-to-be-the-first-name-on-an-open/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```