---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To being an us for once, instead of a them."
description: "\"“To being an us for once, instead of a them.”\" — Jonathon Larson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg"
---

#  To being an us for once, instead of a them.

![“To being an us for once, instead of a them.” quote by Jonathon Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg)

> ““To being an us for once, instead of a them.””

[Jonathon Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-larson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Encourages moving from an exclusive mindset to inclusive unity, urging collective identity over division.

**In simple terms:** Shift from “us vs them” to shared unity.

Key Takeaway

Foster inclusion over division.

Themes

inclusion unity social harmony perspective identity

Mood

hopeful thoughtful motivational

Type

Instead:1

When to use this quote

- team building
- community events
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

collective identity social psychology group dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What would change if you saw everyone as “us”?

A Different Perspective

Excluding others may feel safer for some.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/)

## Related quotes

> [Do not presume to choose your own way of serving instead of the one I have made for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/do-not-presume-to-choose-your-own-way-of-serving-instead-of-the-one-i/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [“Instead of revenge, transcend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-klempner/instead-of-revenge-transcend/)

[Mark Klempner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-klempner/)

> [I am capable of directing, and I am good at that. In order to have longevity as actors, you have to keep changing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-nelson/i-am-capable-of-directing-and-i-am-good-at-that-in-order-to-have/)

[Kirsten Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-nelson/)

> [My mother sent me to speech classes, but the other kids still teased me. I was shy. I stooped. Instead of talking, I kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-mother-sent-me-to-speech-classes-but-the-other-kids-still-teased/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [I like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, as it's great for soothing dry skin and adding shine. I use it instead of balm, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/i-like-elizabeth-arden-eight-hour-cream-as-it-s-great-for-soothing/)

[Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/)

> [It's time Africa started listening to our young people instead of always telling them what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/it-s-time-africa-started-listening-to-our-young-people-instead-of/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/)

[Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/)

> [You can have information and ease of use and have artistic integrity at the same time. The art of being a good Web designer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-davidson/you-can-have-information-and-ease-of-use-and-have-artistic-integrity/)

[Mike Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-davidson/)

> [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/)

[James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [I didnt write Snow White for any class, but I got bitten by the screenwriting bug and wrote a couple of scripts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-daugherty/i-didnt-write-snow-white-for-any-class-but-i-got-bitten-by-the/)

[Evan Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-daugherty/)

> [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/)

[Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/)

> [“Refuse to put others either above you or below you, but instead see them as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-holyoak/refuse-to-put-others-either-above-you-or-below-you-but-instead-see/)

[Pauline Holyoak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-holyoak/)

> [Instead of going into politics, I decided to go into comedy, which is the second most daunting career path for a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/instead-of-going-into-politics-i-decided-to-go-into-comedy-which-is/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

## More by Jonathon Larson

> [“There is no future, there is not past, I live this moment as my last, there's only this, forget regret, no other road, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-larson/there-is-no-future-there-is-not-past-i-live-this-moment-as-my-last/)

[Jonathon Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-larson/)

[Explore all 2 Jonathon Larson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-larson/)

## More Instead quotes

> [Do not presume to choose your own way of serving instead of the one I have made for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/do-not-presume-to-choose-your-own-way-of-serving-instead-of-the-one-i/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [“Refuse to put others either above you or below you, but instead see them as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-holyoak/refuse-to-put-others-either-above-you-or-below-you-but-instead-see/)

[Pauline Holyoak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-holyoak/)

> [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/)

[Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/)

> [I didnt write Snow White for any class, but I got bitten by the screenwriting bug and wrote a couple of scripts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-daugherty/i-didnt-write-snow-white-for-any-class-but-i-got-bitten-by-the/)

[Evan Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-daugherty/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/)

[James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/)

> [You can have information and ease of use and have artistic integrity at the same time. The art of being a good Web designer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-davidson/you-can-have-information-and-ease-of-use-and-have-artistic-integrity/)

[Mike Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-davidson/)

> [I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/i-think-most-amateurs-dread-playing-a-180-plus-yard-par-3-even-more/)

[Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/)

> [It's time Africa started listening to our young people instead of always telling them what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/it-s-time-africa-started-listening-to-our-young-people-instead-of/)

[Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/)

> [I like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, as it's great for soothing dry skin and adding shine. I use it instead of balm, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/i-like-elizabeth-arden-eight-hour-cream-as-it-s-great-for-soothing/)

[Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/)

> [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [My mother sent me to speech classes, but the other kids still teased me. I was shy. I stooped. Instead of talking, I kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-mother-sent-me-to-speech-classes-but-the-other-kids-still-teased/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [I am capable of directing, and I am good at that. In order to have longevity as actors, you have to keep changing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-nelson/i-am-capable-of-directing-and-i-am-good-at-that-in-order-to-have/)

[Kirsten Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-nelson/)

> [“Instead of revenge, transcend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-klempner/instead-of-revenge-transcend/)

[Mark Klempner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-klempner/)

> [Instead of going into politics, I decided to go into comedy, which is the second most daunting career path for a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/instead-of-going-into-politics-i-decided-to-go-into-comedy-which-is/)

[Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/)

[Browse all 963 Instead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“To being an us for once, instead of a them.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jonathon Larson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-larson/to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-them/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Instead"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-larson/to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-them/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/jonathon-larson-102106_instead_to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-the_358674.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To being an us for once, instead of a them.” — Jonathon Larson",
                "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": "Jonathon Larson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-larson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“To being an us for once,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-larson/to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-them/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-larson/to-being-an-us-for-once-instead-of-a-them/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
