---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Incrementalism: In the first generation…"
description: "\"Incrementalism: In the first generation, the goal of the movement was wholesale social and cultural transformation. Small, incremental victories were t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg"
---

#  Incrementalism: In the first generation, the goal of the…

![“Incrementalism: In the first generation, the goal of the movement was wholesale social and cultural transformation. Small, incremental victories were too little given the magnitude of America's moral decay. Since 1988, the new leaders have recognized that incrementalism is the surest path to…” quote by Kenneth D. Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg)

> “Incrementalism: In the first generation, the goal of the movement was wholesale social and cultural transformation. Small, incremental victories were too little given the magnitude of America's moral decay. Since 1988, the new leaders have recognized that incrementalism is the surest path to success in political competition. The current movement is committed to securing small victories now, postponing for the long-term more fundamental changes in society and politics.”

Kenneth D. Wald

## About This Quote

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

Incremental gains are now favored over sweeping reforms to achieve political success.

**In simple terms:** Small wins are preferred over big changes.

Key Takeaway

Focus on achievable short‑term goals.

Themes

politics strategy incrementalism change management

Mood

analytical critical

Type

tactical political

When to use this quote

- election campaigns
- grassroots organizing
- policy advocacy
- public messaging

Key Concepts

incremental progress political competition moral decay

Questions to Reflect On

- What risks arise from postponing systemic reforms?
- How can small wins build toward larger change?

A Different Perspective

Long‑term vision may be neglected for immediate victories.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Changes in society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changes-in-society/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Incrementalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incrementalism/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-decay/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Path to success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-to-success/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Small victories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-victories/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/)

## Related quotes

> [I don't pay that much attention to sales figures or awards. To me, the big question is: 'Did you influence the next generation?' That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-don-t-pay-that-much-attention-to-sales-figures-or-awards-to-me-the/)

[Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/)

> [I've always felt my role in life was to be a mentor. If I can do that with a younger generation, that's my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutan-amrull/i-ve-always-felt-my-role-in-life-was-to-be-a-mentor-if-i-can-do-that/)

[Sutan Amrull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutan-amrull/)

> [The Revolution won't happen with guns, rather it will happen incrementally, year by year, generation by generation. We will gradually infiltrate their educational institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-horkheimer/the-revolution-won-t-happen-with-guns-rather-it-will-happen/)

[Max Horkheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-horkheimer/)

> [“Stop Being Incremental! If your system no longer delivers the results you want, don’t go for incremental changes, instead go for complete transformation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/stop-being-incremental-if-your-system-no-longer-delivers-the-results/)

[Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/)

> [Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/never-worry-about-numbers-help-one-person-at-a-time-and-always-start/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [Incrementalism ceases to be a good strategy when there's a cliff on the route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/incrementalism-ceases-to-be-a-good-strategy-when-there-s-a-cliff-on/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/)

[Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/)

> [Incrementalism is innovation's worst enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/incrementalism-is-innovation-s-worst-enemy/)

[Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/)

> [Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/do-your-little-bit-of-good-where-you-are-it-s-those-little-bits-of/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [The universal methodology of the tyrant is always incrementalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-r-audette/the-universal-methodology-of-the-tyrant-is-always-incrementalism/)

[Derek R. Audette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-r-audette/)

> [We've reached the end of incrementalism. Only those companies that are capable of creating industry revolutions will prosper in the new economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/we-ve-reached-the-end-of-incrementalism-only-those-companies-that-are/)

[Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/)

> [“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts,...Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/indeed-the-safest-road-to-hell-is-the-gradual-one-the-gentle-slope/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

## More by Kenneth D. Wald

> [Organizational Development: The New Christian Right of the 1980s was dominated by paper organizations that were essentially the mailing lists of a handful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-wald/organizational-development-the-new-christian-right-of-the-1980s-was/)

Kenneth D. Wald

> [Given the ambiguity of religious texts and teachings, the mixed historical record, and the empirical evidence, it would be foolhardy to assert that religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-wald/given-the-ambiguity-of-religious-texts-and-teachings-the-mixed/)

Kenneth D. Wald

Explore all 3 Kenneth D. Wald quotes

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Incrementalism: In the first generation, the goal of the movement was wholesale social and cultural transformation. Small, incremental victories were too little given the magnitude of America's moral decay. Since 1988, the new leaders have recognized that incrementalism is the surest path to success in political competition. The current movement is committed to securing small victories now, postponing for the long-term more fundamental changes in society and politics.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kenneth D. Wald"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-wald/incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-the-goal-of-the-movement-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-wald/incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-the-goal-of-the-movement-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a1/kenneth-d-wald-78148_america_incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-t_1300666.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Incrementalism: In the first generation, the goal of the movement was wholesale social and cultural…” — Kenneth D. Wald",
                "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": "Kenneth D. Wald",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-d-wald/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Incrementalism: In the first generation, the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-wald/incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-the-goal-of-the-movement-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-d-wald/incrementalism-in-the-first-generation-the-goal-of-the-movement-was/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
