--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can only watch injustice go on for so…" description: "\"You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. To speak out against it.\" — Macklemore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/macklemore-3964_compelled_you-can-only-watch-injustice-go-on-for-s_675498.png" --- # You can only watch injustice go on for so long until… ![“You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. To speak out against it.” quote by Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/macklemore-3964_compelled_you-can-only-watch-injustice-go-on-for-s_675498.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/macklemore-3964_compelled_you-can-only-watch-injustice-go-on-for-s_675498.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/macklemore-3964_compelled_you-can-only-watch-injustice-go-on-for-s_675498.png) > “You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. To speak out against it.” [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When injustice persists, silence becomes unbearable, prompting a moral duty to speak up. **In simple terms:** Injustice forces you to speak out. Key Takeaway Raise your voice against wrongs. Themes justice activism responsibility Mood determined urgent Type motivational call‑to‑action When to use this quote - community meetings - online platforms - workplace - personal relationships Key Concepts moral duty civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - What injustices have you ignored? - How can you safely confront them? A Different Perspective Speaking may bring backlash or personal risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [Authority founded on injustice is never of long duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/authority-founded-on-injustice-is-never-of-long-duration/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a human being, when I see things going on in my community, I feel compelled to do something, to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-baldwin/as-a-human-being-when-i-see-things-going-on-in-my-community-i-feel/) [Doug Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-baldwin/) > [The nature of language may determine what most people say, but I always speak my own meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-nature-of-language-may-determine-what-most-people-say-but-i/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Until you can say what is most difficult for you to say, you cannot speak from your heart, live unafraid, create health, or receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/until-you-can-say-what-is-most-difficult-for-you-to-say-you-cannot/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“What needs to be counted on to have a voice? Courage. Anger. Love. Something to say; someone to speak to; someone to listen. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/what-needs-to-be-counted-on-to-have-a-voice-courage-anger-love/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“1. Speak only when you have something to say. 2. Speak what you want to say and say it in the way you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/1-speak-only-when-you-have-something-to-say-2-speak-what-you-want-to/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [“The writer must write what he has to say, not speak it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-writer-must-write-what-he-has-to-say-not-speak-it/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“I write to say what I cannot speak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/i-write-to-say-what-i-cannot-speak/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [I am always quiet so that I know what to say when I must speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-beah/i-am-always-quiet-so-that-i-know-what-to-say-when-i-must-speak/) [Ishmael Beah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-beah/) > [“Sometimes, the things people don't say speak louder than the things they do, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-randall/sometimes-the-things-people-don-t-say-speak-louder-than-the-things/) [Andrea Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-randall/) > [“Daddy-by Nancy B. Brewer When I used to say, speak up you are as good as they, You would just smile and say, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-b-brewer/daddy-by-nancy-b-brewer-when-i-used-to-say-speak-up-you-are-as-good/) [Nancy B. Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-b-brewer/) > [First learn the meaning of what you want to say, and then speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/first-learn-the-meaning-of-what-you-want-to-say-and-then-speak/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Students, when you want to say something, think about it three times before you say it. Speak only if your words will benefit yourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/students-when-you-want-to-say-something-think-about-it-three-times/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [I do have a mouth - I will say. I speak up when I see things I don't care for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-bishop/i-do-have-a-mouth-i-will-say-i-speak-up-when-i-see-things-i-don-t/) [Kelly Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-bishop/) > [The law of silence: Speak little. Say only what you must. Speak only when necessary. Your oratory should be deeds, not words. You accomplish:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/the-law-of-silence-speak-little-say-only-what-you-must-speak-only/) [Corneliu Zelea Codreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/) ## More by Macklemore > [Don't forget where you come from Don't die holding on to your words Cause you know you got a whole world to change But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/don-t-forget-where-you-come-from-don-t-die-holding-on-to-your-words/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [The spirits there to knock you down.But if you make that the end, you'll never know the beauty of being able to stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/the-spirits-there-to-knock-you-down-but-if-you-make-that-the-end-you/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [I got my city right behind me, if I fall, they got me. Learn from that failure gain humility and then we keep marching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-got-my-city-right-behind-me-if-i-fall-they-got-me-learn-from-that/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [I don't control life, but I can control how i react to it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-don-t-control-life-but-i-can-control-how-i-react-to-it/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [They be like 'Oh that Gucci, thats hella tight.' Im like 'Yo, thats fifty dollars for a t-shirt.' Limited edition, lets do some simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/they-be-like-oh-that-gucci-thats-hella-tight-im-like-yo-thats-fifty/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [Live tonight, cuz you can't take it with ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/live-tonight-cuz-you-can-t-take-it-with-ya/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [Sampling is kind of prehistoric, given the technology and the textures you can create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/sampling-is-kind-of-prehistoric-given-the-technology-and-the-textures/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [This moon man right here stands for a lot more. This is the most important record out of all of them. Gay rights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/this-moon-man-right-here-stands-for-a-lot-more-this-is-the-most/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky I know your fed up but you must try to survive Each moment's precious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/hold-your-head-up-there-s-a-light-in-the-sky-i-know-your-fed-up-but/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [The greatest trick the devil ever pulled is commiting that women look better in their makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled-is-commiting-that-women-look/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > ['The more expensive the better' is kind of the American way, and if you spent $600 for a sweatshirt, then that makes it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/the-more-expensive-the-better-is-kind-of-the-american-way-and-if-you/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [It's been so long since I've really truly felt what it's like to live life without substances to help. Massive struggle that's natural to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/it-s-been-so-long-since-i-ve-really-truly-felt-what-it-s-like-to-live/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [Bullying is a national epidemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/bullying-is-a-national-epidemic/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [We are what we wear, we wear what we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/we-are-what-we-wear-we-wear-what-we-are/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [I've never been a religious person. I've been a spiritual person since I was about 15, 16, when I was first introduced to Psilocybin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-ve-never-been-a-religious-person-i-ve-been-a-spiritual-person-since/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) [Explore all 118 Macklemore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) ## More Compelled quotes > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. But let higher obligations of an international order be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-albert-gobat/ordinary-citizens-are-obliged-and-if-need-be-compelled-by-force-to/) [Charles Albert Gobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-albert-gobat/) > [Untethered technology gives us the freedom to do nearly anything, anytime, anywhere. It can also enslave us - we feel compelled to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-stone/untethered-technology-gives-us-the-freedom-to-do-nearly-anything/) [Linda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-stone/) > [He who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exemplify the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/he-who-is-required-by-the-necessity-of-his-position-to-speak-the/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [ I've written a lot of other books and this book \[Tears we cannot stop\] was different. I couldn't just say what I wanted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-ve-written-a-lot-of-other-books-and-this-book-tears-we-cannot-stop/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [See with what force yon river's crystal stream Resists the weight of many a massy beam. To sink the wood the more we vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/see-with-what-force-yon-river-s-crystal-stream-resists-the-weight-of/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“The more helpless she was, the more he would feel compelled to protect her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-helpless-she-was-the-more-he-would-feel-compelled-to-protect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love different sorts of people, their stories, all the different facets, that make them, them. This is entwined with how I am compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-cairney/i-love-different-sorts-of-people-their-stories-all-the-different/) [Gemma Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-cairney/) > [The most deeply compelled action is also the freest action. By that I mean, no part of you is outside the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-deeply-compelled-action-is-also-the-freest-action-by-that-i/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It's a mission for me to make sure that philanthropy doesn't feel like a vintage hand-me-down from mom or dad. I want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/it-s-a-mission-for-me-to-make-sure-that-philanthropy-doesn-t-feel/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [Operas elucidate, in a way sometimes absent in other theatrical productions, the very human fact that in every hero, there is a thread of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/operas-elucidate-in-a-way-sometimes-absent-in-other-theatrical/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/the-first-thing-when-i-read-the-script-is-that-i-need-to-care-about/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [God has not made this world to be a nest for us, and if we try to make it such for ourselves, he plants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-has-not-made-this-world-to-be-a-nest-for-us-and-if-we-try-to-make/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) Browse all 515 Compelled quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. 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