--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to work up the courage to even…" description: "\"I had to work up the courage to even imagine myself running for Congress. But I eventually decided that our country had a moral problem in only letting..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/laura-moser-16419_country_i-had-to-work-up-the-courage-to-even-ima_1917020.jpg" --- # I had to work up the courage to even imagine myself… ![“I had to work up the courage to even imagine myself running for Congress. But I eventually decided that our country had a moral problem in only letting white men - even the right-minded ones - have a seat at the table.” quote by Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/laura-moser-16419_country_i-had-to-work-up-the-courage-to-even-ima_1917020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/laura-moser-16419_country_i-had-to-work-up-the-courage-to-even-ima_1917020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/laura-moser-16419_country_i-had-to-work-up-the-courage-to-even-ima_1917020.jpg) > “I had to work up the courage to even imagine myself running for Congress. But I eventually decided that our country had a moral problem in only letting white men - even the right-minded ones - have a seat at the table.” [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage to run for office stems from recognizing systemic exclusion and committing to inclusive representation. **In simple terms:** Run for office to fix unfairness. Key Takeaway Take action to broaden representation. Themes politics inclusion courage justice Mood determined hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - campaign planning - community organizing - policy debates - voting initiatives Key Concepts systemic bias representation activism Questions to Reflect On - What steps will you take to build alliances? - How can you sustain momentum? A Different Perspective Political change also requires building broad coalitions beyond personal courage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Countrymen, the task ahead is great indeed, and heavy is the responsibility; and yet it is a noble and glorious challenge - a challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/countrymen-the-task-ahead-is-great-indeed-and-heavy-is-the/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [I always loved music, so I wanted to do something in it, but I had to work up the courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-always-loved-music-so-i-wanted-to-do-something-in-it-but-i-had-to/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [Necessity does the work of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/necessity-does-the-work-of-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“take what you can from your dreams Make them real as anything It takes the work out of the courage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews-band/take-what-you-can-from-your-dreams-make-them-real-as-anything-it/) [Dave Matthews Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews-band/) > [“Sometimes you could get rid of the ghosts that were haunting your life if you could only work up enough courage to face them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sometimes-you-could-get-rid-of-the-ghosts-that-were-haunting-your/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Confidence is like a sliding scale, but courage is something I can work on - the courage to show up and the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/confidence-is-like-a-sliding-scale-but-courage-is-something-i-can/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [Hard work, courage, and determination are the tools to achieve success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/hard-work-courage-and-determination-are-the-tools-to-achieve-success/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Hard work, courage and commitment - these are the key elements for success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-grybauskaite/hard-work-courage-and-commitment-these-are-the-key-elements-for/) [Dalia Grybauskaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-grybauskaite/) > [One of the rules of running for Congress is no matter where you go, you speak like you're speaking to the whole district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ossoff/one-of-the-rules-of-running-for-congress-is-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Jon Ossoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ossoff/) > [My son Emilio is running for Congress to continue the fight for social justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/my-son-emilio-is-running-for-congress-to-continue-the-fight-for/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [Veterans tend to want to be ultra-prepared. They want to know everything they possibly can before running for Congress. That's great... but don't undersell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-crenshaw/veterans-tend-to-want-to-be-ultra-prepared-they-want-to-know/) [Dan Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-crenshaw/) > [I was the last person to announce I was running for Congress in a big district, and I still won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/i-was-the-last-person-to-announce-i-was-running-for-congress-in-a-big/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [There are over 30 doctors running for the US Congress this year. That's going to be rather strange. Half the time these folks will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-are-over-30-doctors-running-for-the-us-congress-this-year-that/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I thought running for Congress paled in comparison to being a parent and being a mom - especially a single mom of three kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-porter/i-thought-running-for-congress-paled-in-comparison-to-being-a-parent/) [Katie Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-porter/) > [Sometimes running for Congress is a four-year strategy in terms of getting out there and building a network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-davis/sometimes-running-for-congress-is-a-four-year-strategy-in-terms-of/) [Artur Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-davis/) ## More by Laura Moser > [Don't most of us agree that providing school meals to kids who need them is an overwhelmingly good thing? After all, nutrition is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/don-t-most-of-us-agree-that-providing-school-meals-to-kids-who-need/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [Grit can't be measured on pop quizzes, but it can often predict long-term success more than mere intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/grit-can-t-be-measured-on-pop-quizzes-but-it-can-often-predict-long/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [We can all get behind feeding the poorest kids in school, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/we-can-all-get-behind-feeding-the-poorest-kids-in-school-right/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [Calling representatives every single day, arranging local community meetings, and marching in the streets every Sunday. It's not the path to glory, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/calling-representatives-every-single-day-arranging-local-community/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [In middle school, I had a teacher who regularly reminded students of the Monday night Young Life meetings he sponsored; on Tuesdays, he'd spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/in-middle-school-i-had-a-teacher-who-regularly-reminded-students-of/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [I never experienced much outright anti-Semitism. While we learned about the Holocaust - endlessly, it felt like - no spray-painted swastika ever appeared on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/i-never-experienced-much-outright-anti-semitism-while-we-learned/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [Houston's one of the most diverse urban areas in the entire country, and most people here are really proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/houston-s-one-of-the-most-diverse-urban-areas-in-the-entire-country/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [With our growing attachment to the online universe comes a refined ability to keep tabs on several things at once, to watch stories unfold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/with-our-growing-attachment-to-the-online-universe-comes-a-refined/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [New York City has an integration problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/new-york-city-has-an-integration-problem/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [In my career as a writer, I preferred to avoid current events: I wrote young adult novels and book reviews and lifestyle journalism about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/in-my-career-as-a-writer-i-preferred-to-avoid-current-events-i-wrote/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [If we all band together against extremism and spend a few minutes a day using tools that have been proven to work, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/if-we-all-band-together-against-extremism-and-spend-a-few-minutes-a/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [As more and more minority groups fill our nation's classrooms, what can we do to even the separate-but-forever-unequal playing field? Now that's a question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/as-more-and-more-minority-groups-fill-our-nation-s-classrooms-what/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [I don't claim any great experience or expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/i-don-t-claim-any-great-experience-or-expertise/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [As President Trump quickly moved to limit immigration, civil rights, and environmental protections, I felt fear for my young children, and guilt, too -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/as-president-trump-quickly-moved-to-limit-immigration-civil-rights/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) > [The celebrity's desire to shape the next generation of young minds by opening a school is by no means unique to Diddy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-moser/the-celebrity-s-desire-to-shape-the-next-generation-of-young-minds-by/) [Laura Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) [Explore all 40 Laura Moser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-moser/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [For the Scottish government, the practice of having meetings in different parts of the country is well established, but for the U.K. government, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/for-the-scottish-government-the-practice-of-having-meetings-in/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [There's no reason someone who has fought for their country should be homeless of jobless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/there-s-no-reason-someone-who-has-fought-for-their-country-should-be/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [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/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [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/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) [Browse all 29,881 Country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had to work up the courage to even imagine myself running for Congress. 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