--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Amidst protestations of 'Who can be…" description: "\"Amidst protestations of 'Who can be against the children?' too few people are FOR children when it really matters.\" — Marian Wright Edelman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/marian-wright-edelman-2216_children_amidst-protestations-of-who-can-be-again_1450614.png" --- # Amidst protestations of 'Who can be against the children?'… ![“Amidst protestations of 'Who can be against the children?' too few people are FOR children when it really matters.” quote by Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/marian-wright-edelman-2216_children_amidst-protestations-of-who-can-be-again_1450614.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/marian-wright-edelman-2216_children_amidst-protestations-of-who-can-be-again_1450614.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09b/marian-wright-edelman-2216_children_amidst-protestations-of-who-can-be-again_1450614.png) > “Amidst protestations of 'Who can be against the children?' too few people are FOR children when it really matters.” [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many claim to support children, yet few truly act when children need help most. **In simple terms:** People often say they care for children but don’t act. Key Takeaway Act consistently for children’s welfare. Themes advocacy responsibility children’s rights Mood determined concerned Type advocacy ethical When to use this quote - policy making - volunteering - parenting - education reform Key Concepts Moral duty social responsibility consistency Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to support children today? - How do you differentiate between rhetoric and real support? A Different Perspective Idealism can clash with practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amidst Protestations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amidst-protestations-5215727/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-people-480715/) [Children Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-really/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Protestations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestations-518781/) [Protestations Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestations-children-5215726/) ## Related quotes > [Protestations of indifference to higher office are hard to take seriously when the 'non-candidate' is busily engaged in testing the waters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/protestations-of-indifference-to-higher-office-are-hard-to-take/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [“You're unmoved by the protestations of the rabble. When they gather outside your house, massed in numbers larger than you can count, you'll laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-milan/you-re-unmoved-by-the-protestations-of-the-rabble-when-they-gather/) [Courtney Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-milan/) > [“No amount of denials, protestations, or defenses seemed to make any difference, in what is called the 'court' of public opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/no-amount-of-denials-protestations-or-defenses-seemed-to-make-any/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [There aren't any messages in my social protestations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-russell/there-aren-t-any-messages-in-my-social-protestations/) [Nipsey Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-russell/) > [“Most people, whatever their opinions and protestations, do not want to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/most-people-whatever-their-opinions-and-protestations-do-not-want-to/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [A lot of sad things have happened to my friends' children, people you knew as babies. They've been killed or become crazy or all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/a-lot-of-sad-things-have-happened-to-my-friends-children-people-you/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [I'll never get sick of raising my children, but other people might get sick of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/i-ll-never-get-sick-of-raising-my-children-but-other-people-might-get/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) > [“Children are not the people of tomorrow, but are people of today. They have a right to be taken seriously, and to be treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/korczak-janusz/children-are-not-the-people-of-tomorrow-but-are-people-of-today-they/) [Korczak Janusz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/korczak-janusz/) > [“Is there anyone dearer than the children of people you love, especially when you don’t have your own?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/is-there-anyone-dearer-than-the-children-of-people-you-love/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [How much will you give for the lives of your childrens children, which is yourself? How much are people willing to give up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynette-fromme/how-much-will-you-give-for-the-lives-of-your-childrens-children-which/) [Lynette Fromme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynette-fromme/) > [People with children and people with their own business always pick up a ringing phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/people-with-children-and-people-with-their-own-business-always-pick/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [Everybody knows how to raise children, except the people who have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everybody-knows-how-to-raise-children-except-the-people-who-have-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where there are children, people become neighbors; they don't merely hold property adjacent to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/where-there-are-children-people-become-neighbors-they-don-t-merely/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [Everyone knows how to raise children, except the people who have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-knows-how-to-raise-children-except-the-people-who-have-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First of all, I find everything funny, which is upsetting to my children sometimes, and to people in my life, in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenji-kohan/first-of-all-i-find-everything-funny-which-is-upsetting-to-my/) [Jenji Kohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenji-kohan/) ## More by Marian Wright Edelman > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Justice is not cheap. Justice is not quick. It is not ever finally achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/justice-is-not-cheap-justice-is-not-quick-it-is-not-ever-finally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I never thought I was breaking a glass ceiling. I just had to do what I had to do, and it never occurred to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/i-never-thought-i-was-breaking-a-glass-ceiling-i-just-had-to-do-what/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [In my generation, we learned how to be leaders by being exposed to and involved with adults who empowered us and gave us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/in-my-generation-we-learned-how-to-be-leaders-by-being-exposed-to-and/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [The old notion that children are the private property of parents dies very slowly. In reality, no parent raises a child alone. How many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/the-old-notion-that-children-are-the-private-property-of-parents-dies/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/when-jesus-christ-asked-little-children-to-come-to-him-he-didn-t-say/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [“Don’t feel entitled to anything you don’t sweat and struggle for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/don-t-feel-entitled-to-anything-you-don-t-sweat-and-struggle-for/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [You can't tell parents to teach children the value of work when we don't have jobs and the jobs we have don't pay a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/you-can-t-tell-parents-to-teach-children-the-value-of-work-when-we/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [To all those mothers and fathers who are struggling with teen-agers, I say, just be patient: even though it looks like you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/to-all-those-mothers-and-fathers-who-are-struggling-with-teen-agers-i/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [It really takes a community to raise children, no matter how much money one has. Nobody can do it well alone. And it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-really-takes-a-community-to-raise-children-no-matter-how-much/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Democracy cannot breathe, indeed will die, if those enjoined to protect it and uphold the laws snuff it out - with no consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/democracy-cannot-breathe-indeed-will-die-if-those-enjoined-to-protect/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Hunger and malnutrition have devastating consequences for children and have been linked to low birth weight and birth defects, obesity, mental and physical health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/hunger-and-malnutrition-have-devastating-consequences-for-children/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [We're spending, on average, three times more for prison than for public-school pupils. That's the dumbest investment policy. It doesn't make us safer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-re-spending-on-average-three-times-more-for-prison-than-for-public/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [You'd better stay determined, because that's how our ancestors got us where we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/you-d-better-stay-determined-because-that-s-how-our-ancestors-got-us/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) [Explore all 179 Marian Wright Edelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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