--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is time for every one of us to roll up…" description: "\"It is time for every one of us to roll up our sleeves and put ourselves at the top of our commitment list.\" — Marian Wright Edelman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png" --- # It is time for every one of us to roll up our sleeves and… ![“It is time for every one of us to roll up our sleeves and put ourselves at the top of our commitment list.” quote by Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png) > “It is time for every one of us to roll up our sleeves and put ourselves at the top of our commitment list.” [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. Encourages personal responsibility and prioritizing commitment above all else. **In simple terms:** Put commitment first. Key Takeaway Prioritize your commitments. Themes responsibility commitment leadership Mood determined inspirational Type motivational advice When to use this quote - volunteer work - community projects - career planning - family duties Key Concepts civic engagement personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance commitment with self‑care? - What top priority deserves your focus now? A Different Perspective May overcommitment lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teens/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There comes a time when you roll up your sleeves and put yourself at the top of your commitment list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/there-comes-a-time-when-you-roll-up-your-sleeves-and-put-yourself-at/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I'll keep going. That's one thing about myself - I'll roll my sleeves up and keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-snodgrass/i-ll-keep-going-that-s-one-thing-about-myself-i-ll-roll-my-sleeves-up/) [Robert Snodgrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-snodgrass/) > [If you treat staff as your equal, they'll roll their sleeves up to get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ilhan/if-you-treat-staff-as-your-equal-they-ll-roll-their-sleeves-up-to-get/) [John Ilhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ilhan/) > [You can't write about stuff you don't know about. You have to live it. You have to roll up your sleeves and get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dierks-bentley/you-can-t-write-about-stuff-you-don-t-know-about-you-have-to-live-it/) [Dierks Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dierks-bentley/) > [When I produce a record, I roll up my sleeves; I'm not one of those passive guys. I really get in there and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster/when-i-produce-a-record-i-roll-up-my-sleeves-i-m-not-one-of-those/) [David Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster/) > [ “\[...\] god is when you roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapiwa-mugabe/god-is-when-you-roll-up-your-sleeves-and-do-it-yourself/) [Tapiwa Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapiwa-mugabe/) > [Always roll up the sleeves on your shirt. It gives the impression that you're working, even if you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/always-roll-up-the-sleeves-on-your-shirt-it-gives-the-impression-that/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [I'm not into the culture of complaint. I roll up my sleeves and somehow I get it together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-m-not-into-the-culture-of-complaint-i-roll-up-my-sleeves-and/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-wring-your-hands-and-roll-up-your-sleeves-at-the-same-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That worst part is when your in a workshop or a cooking class and you have to roll up your sleeves... And the scars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/that-worst-part-is-when-your-in-a-workshop-or-a-cooking-class-and-you/) [Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/) > [I've actually cut my personal pay individually; we didn't vote on that, but I've done that individually. It's important that folks know that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stivers/i-ve-actually-cut-my-personal-pay-individually-we-didn-t-vote-on-that/) [Steve Stivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stivers/) > [We weren't treated as prima-donnas. We had to roll up our sleeves and graft with the groundsman. Kids don't have to do anymore. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cooper/we-weren-t-treated-as-prima-donnas-we-had-to-roll-up-our-sleeves-and/) [Colin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cooper/) > [Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in to life, does it for me. since you don't get anywhere if you don't work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-macdonald/roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-stuck-in-to-life-does-it-for-me-since/) [Kyle MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-macdonald/) > [I'm from Stratford, East London. I can get down and dirty. I just roll my sleeves up and get on with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-m-from-stratford-east-london-i-can-get-down-and-dirty-i-just-roll/) [Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/) > [I didn't lie that I read Vogue' every day or that I grew up loving fashion, but I did know how to roll up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-winston-wolkoff/i-didn-t-lie-that-i-read-vogue-every-day-or-that-i-grew-up-loving/) [Stephanie Winston Wolkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-winston-wolkoff/) ## 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 Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is time for every one of us to roll up our sleeves and put ourselves at the top of our commitment list.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marian Wright Edelman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-up-our-sleeves-and-put/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commitment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-up-our-sleeves-and-put/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/marian-wright-edelman-2216_commitment_it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-u_2327926.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is time for every one of us to roll up our sleeves and put ourselves at the top of our commitment list.” — Marian Wright Edelman", "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": "Marian Wright Edelman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is time for every one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-up-our-sleeves-and-put/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-time-for-every-one-of-us-to-roll-up-our-sleeves-and-put/#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 } } ] } ```