--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believed that, in a situation where the…" description: "\"I believed that, in a situation where the community that I came from were being treated like second- and third-class citizens, that I had a responsibil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png" --- # I believed that, in a situation where the community that I… ![“I believed that, in a situation where the community that I came from were being treated like second- and third-class citizens, that I had a responsibility to fight back against it. And I don't apologise to anybody for having done that. I think it was the right thing to do.” quote by Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png) > “I believed that, in a situation where the community that I came from were being treated like second- and third-class citizens, that I had a responsibility to fight back against it. And I don't apologise to anybody for having done that. I think it was the right thing to do.” [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He felt a moral duty to oppose oppression of his community and stands by that choice. **In simple terms:** Fight oppression when your community suffers. Key Takeaway Stand up for justice despite criticism. Themes justice activism identity courage Mood determined defiant Type political personal When to use this quote - protests - legislative advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts political ethics civil rights personal conviction Questions to Reflect On - What does responsibility mean to you? - When is resistance justified? A Different Perspective Opposition can lead to personal risk or backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-responsibility-2899854/) [Class Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-citizens/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Community Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-came-1849763/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-fight-2707779/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [India has a responsibility to itself to fight Climate Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/india-has-a-responsibility-to-itself-to-fight-climate-change/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [Life is full of troubles, it's not gonna be so easy to fight but it's your life and you have to take the responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubhanshu-tiwari/life-is-full-of-troubles-it-s-not-gonna-be-so-easy-to-fight-but-it-s/) [Shubhanshu Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubhanshu-tiwari/) > [Ensuring that high quality water is provided to all Arizona's citizens is the responsibility of elected officials at all levels and I am happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-hayworth/ensuring-that-high-quality-water-is-provided-to-all-arizona-s/) [J. D. Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-hayworth/) > [We have two responsibilities when it comes to an election as citizens. We have the responsibility to vote and then to honor that vote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-have-two-responsibilities-when-it-comes-to-an-election-as-citizens/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Artists and celebrities are citizens, and as such you have a responsibility to keep fighting for justice because there are monolithic power structures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-saliers/artists-and-celebrities-are-citizens-and-as-such-you-have-a/) [Emily Saliers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-saliers/) > [Forget being an actor-director: we, as citizens, have the responsibility to make the country a better place. And that doesn't mean advertising other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/forget-being-an-actor-director-we-as-citizens-have-the-responsibility/) [Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/) > [The reality is that the people that we represent are no longer going to be second-class citizens in their own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-reality-is-that-the-people-that-we-represent-are-no-longer-going/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Let us walk into the conference room as equals and not second class citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/let-us-walk-into-the-conference-room-as-equals-and-not-second-class/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I want to look at the community I came from and what role incarceration has played there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-want-to-look-at-the-community-i-came-from-and-what-role/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [I just really felt I had to help the community I came from. I know how hard it is to make it out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/i-just-really-felt-i-had-to-help-the-community-i-came-from-i-know-how/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I had no accomplishments except surviving. But that isn't enough in the community where I came from, because everybody was doing it. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-had-no-accomplishments-except-surviving-but-that-isn-t-enough-in/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [So when Community came up and then the movie roles started happening I was very grateful. I am trying to be careful with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/so-when-community-came-up-and-then-the-movie-roles-started-happening/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [“If you can’t get up on your own that's where your community came in. Someone would help you up. Sometimes you were helped up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-downey/if-you-can-t-get-up-on-your-own-that-s-where-your-community-came-in/) [Roma Downey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roma-downey/) > ["Community" came to be seen as a chat-group: you switch on as long as your pleasure lasts, then push another button and switch off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/community-came-to-be-seen-as-a-chat-group-you-switch-on-as-long-as/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Women are in many ways second-class citizens in the United States in 2016, because of the way that we're portrayed in popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/women-are-in-many-ways-second-class-citizens-in-the-united-states-in/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) ## More by Martin McGuinness > [The position is clear - there is no ambiguity in Sinn Fein's position. We, along with all the other parties, have signed up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-position-is-clear-there-is-no-ambiguity-in-sinn-fein-s-position/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The British government needs to bring its system in Ireland under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-british-government-needs-to-bring-its-system-in-ireland-under/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Well I think it has always been a mistake to reduce the peace process in Ireland to a decommissioning process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/well-i-think-it-has-always-been-a-mistake-to-reduce-the-peace-process/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [That's healthy and good for us that there are people who are prepared to question what we are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/that-s-healthy-and-good-for-us-that-there-are-people-who-are-prepared/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [World War One is an important part of Ireland's multi-layered history during which tens of thousands Irish people lost their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/world-war-one-is-an-important-part-of-ireland-s-multi-layered-history/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I don't cheer when people lose their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-don-t-cheer-when-people-lose-their-lives/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Along with that ongoing process Sinn Fein took a decision to establish a peace commission which had the responsibility to travel around the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/along-with-that-ongoing-process-sinn-fein-took-a-decision-to/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Unlike the Tory millionaires, I live in the heart of the proud working-class community of the Bogside in Derry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/unlike-the-tory-millionaires-i-live-in-the-heart-of-the-proud-working/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I do not think we can dismiss the contribution that people make, particularly when it is a very dangerous occupation to be involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-do-not-think-we-can-dismiss-the-contribution-that-people-make/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I lost a lot of friends at the hands of the British Army. The person who actually introduced me to my wife, Colm Keenan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-lost-a-lot-of-friends-at-the-hands-of-the-british-army-the-person/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Let's leave beside them in another pile all the injustices which exist in the northern state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/let-s-leave-beside-them-in-another-pile-all-the-injustices-which/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [The reality is that the people that we represent are no longer going to be second-class citizens in their own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/the-reality-is-that-the-people-that-we-represent-are-no-longer-going/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Freedom can be gained only at the point of an IRA rifle, and I apologize to no one for saying that we support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/freedom-can-be-gained-only-at-the-point-of-an-ira-rifle-and-i/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Our ability to make a decision about the declaration is hampered by the British government being reluctant to give us the clarification which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/our-ability-to-make-a-decision-about-the-declaration-is-hampered-by/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I am opposed to abortion on demand, and I am opposed to the 1967 Act in Britain being transferred to the north.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-am-opposed-to-abortion-on-demand-and-i-am-opposed-to-the-1967-act/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) [Explore all 72 Martin McGuinness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) [Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believed that, in a situation where the community that I came from were being treated like second- and third-class citizens, that I had a responsibility to fight back against it. And I don't apologise to anybody for having done that. I think it was the right thing to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin McGuinness" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the-community-that-i-came-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Community" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the-community-that-i-came-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/martin-mcguinness-9531_community_i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the_1462113.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believed that, in a situation where the community that I came from were being treated like second- and…” — Martin McGuinness", "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 McGuinness", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believed that, in a situation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the-community-that-i-came-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-believed-that-in-a-situation-where-the-community-that-i-came-from/#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 } } ] } ```