--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true way generally when people don't…" description: "\"The true way generally when people don't understand your plight is when you decide to exercise your buying power elsewhere.\" — Martin Luther King III" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png" --- # The true way generally when people don't understand your… ![“The true way generally when people don't understand your plight is when you decide to exercise your buying power elsewhere.” quote by Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png) > “The true way generally when people don't understand your plight is when you decide to exercise your buying power elsewhere.” [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When people ignore your struggles, you can respond by shifting your spending to support those who align with your values. **In simple terms:** Use buying power to support allies when ignored. Key Takeaway Choose ethical consumption. Themes justice consumer activism solidarity Mood determined reflective Type activist pragmatic When to use this quote - boycott unethical brands - support fair trade - vote with wallet - advocate for change Key Concepts Economic leverage moral choice Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify ethical alternatives? - What sacrifices are you willing to make? A Different Perspective May limit impact if alternatives are scarce. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Buying power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying-power/) [Don Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-understand/) [Exercise Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise-buying-2337272/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plight Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plight-decide-2337271/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Understand Plight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-plight-2337270/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [I can only hope that one day soon we'll understand our true economic buying power by investing in our own communities and putting our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/i-can-only-hope-that-one-day-soon-we-ll-understand-our-true-economic/) [T.I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-i/) > [Then why flounder around waiting for good business? Get the costs down by better management. Get the prices down to the buying power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/then-why-flounder-around-waiting-for-good-business-get-the-costs-down/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [The Government should create, issue, and circulate all the currency and credits needed to satisfy the spending power of the Government and the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-government-should-create-issue-and-circulate-all-the-currency-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As mass production has to be accompanied by mass consumption, mass consumption, in turn, implies a distribution of wealth ... to provide men with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marriner-stoddard-eccles/as-mass-production-has-to-be-accompanied-by-mass-consumption-mass/) [Marriner Stoddard Eccles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marriner-stoddard-eccles/) > [There's a lot of buying power from the Middle East. Girls from Dubai want to be able to wear Asos, and you have people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna/there-s-a-lot-of-buying-power-from-the-middle-east-girls-from-dubai/) [Yuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna/) > [More than ever before, consumers have the ability to unify their voices and coalesce their buying power to influence corporate behaviors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/more-than-ever-before-consumers-have-the-ability-to-unify-their/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [I'm an economist by training. And I know that what works is a permanent increase in buying power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-steelman/i-m-an-economist-by-training-and-i-know-that-what-works-is-a/) [Sarah Steelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-steelman/) > [There is no technical reason why we could not feed a world of nine billion people. Hunger is a matter of buying power, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fresco/there-is-no-technical-reason-why-we-could-not-feed-a-world-of-nine/) [Louise Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fresco/) > [“The price you will offer yourself to the world, is how much they will buy you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-price-you-will-offer-yourself-to-the-world-is-how-much-they-will/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [China is clearly going to be the number one economic power and it is already full of potential.. with lots of population and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-arnault/china-is-clearly-going-to-be-the-number-one-economic-power-and-it-is/) [Bernard Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-arnault/) > [The buying power of clubs is very different. You can't sign players if you don't have money, and if there is no money, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepe-reina/the-buying-power-of-clubs-is-very-different-you-can-t-sign-players-if/) [Pepe Reina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepe-reina/) > [The women are at an advantage - we represent the buying power in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lee/the-women-are-at-an-advantage-we-represent-the-buying-power-in-this/) [Sandra Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lee/) > [“By buying the power of the workman, the capitalist has, therefore, acquired the right to use of make that labouring power during the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/by-buying-the-power-of-the-workman-the-capitalist-has-therefore/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“2. Identifying “leader” categories—high performers for stopping and buying power: These”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-sorensen/2-identifying-leader-categories-high-performers-for-stopping-and/) [Herb Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-sorensen/) ## More by Martin Luther King III > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [And I think that, at some point, I am, as John Lewis and many others, are a bridge-builder. The goal is to bring America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/and-i-think-that-at-some-point-i-am-as-john-lewis-and-many-others-are/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [If I woke up every day attempting to be my father, I would fail miserably. I think he was anointed. He was chosen by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/if-i-woke-up-every-day-attempting-to-be-my-father-i-would-fail/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I just think we have to create the climate so that people will come out on election day and vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-just-think-we-have-to-create-the-climate-so-that-people-will-come/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I think we have got to do a better job explaining to people why their vote does count. I think people feel disconnected from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-think-we-have-got-to-do-a-better-job-explaining-to-people-why-their/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [There is more racial integration in American life and many more people of color serving as elected officials and corporate leaders than there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/there-is-more-racial-integration-in-american-life-and-many-more/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Our family has always drawn on the power from above to comfort us in times of despair and stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/our-family-has-always-drawn-on-the-power-from-above-to-comfort-us-in/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [I was told that Daddy was murdered by a white man. I could have adopted an attitude of hating whites. But then in 1974…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-was-told-that-daddy-was-murdered-by-a-white-man-i-could-have/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Many feel that in today's climate some of those in authority are exercising, in effect, a self-serving, 'ends justify the means' mindset as well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/many-feel-that-in-today-s-climate-some-of-those-in-authority-are/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [African Americans are not going to be fooled by any group supported by industrial polluters. They know climate change is real and that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/african-americans-are-not-going-to-be-fooled-by-any-group-supported/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [There's something wrong in a nation where six million black men are not allowed to vote because they were convicted of felonies. They've paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-where-six-million-black-men-are/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Our challenge is to mobilize a new coalition of conscience to restore the Voting Rights Act, strengthen voting rights and broaden voter access in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/our-challenge-is-to-mobilize-a-new-coalition-of-conscience-to-restore/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [You know, when you've idolized something, you put it on a shelf, lift it up, and when King Day comes out, you pull it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/you-know-when-you-ve-idolized-something-you-put-it-on-a-shelf-lift-it/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [The March on Washington was a defining moment in the history of this country and a great example of our nation truly living up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-march-on-washington-was-a-defining-moment-in-the-history-of-this/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [On March 7, 1965, some 600 civil rights activists marched in Selma, Alabama, demanding an end to racial discrimination. The demonstration was led by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/on-march-7-1965-some-600-civil-rights-activists-marched-in-selma/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) [Explore all 103 Martin Luther King III quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) ## More Buying quotes > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [I think buying a home is the best investment that any individual can make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paulson/i-think-buying-a-home-is-the-best-investment-that-any-individual-can/) [John Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paulson/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [Every kid looks forward to buying their first JanSport backpack for school - you know my kids did!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/every-kid-looks-forward-to-buying-their-first-jansport-backpack-for/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [What is the focus of the new image infrastructure? Attention. It's all designed for capturing, tracking, quantifying, manipulating, holding, buying, selling and controlling attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/what-is-the-focus-of-the-new-image-infrastructure-attention-it-s-all/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [The truth is, if I was maybe better or funnier or prettier, wouldn't I have starred in a movie? I can see it objectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/the-truth-is-if-i-was-maybe-better-or-funnier-or-prettier-wouldn-t-i/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) [Browse all 1,598 Buying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true way generally when people don't understand your plight is when you decide to exercise your buying power elsewhere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther King III" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t-understand-your-plight-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t-understand-your-plight-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e5/martin-luther-king-iii-5061_buying_the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t_2649363.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true way generally when people don't understand your plight is when you decide to exercise your buying…” — Martin Luther King III", "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": "Martin Luther King III", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The true way generally when people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t-understand-your-plight-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/the-true-way-generally-when-people-don-t-understand-your-plight-is/#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 } } ] } ```