--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A community that sees so clearly its own…" description: "\"A community that sees so clearly its own disadvantage or its own hardships also has a harder time seeing its potential: its ability to work together to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/matthew-desmond-1529_change_a-community-that-sees-so-clearly-its-own_182863.jpg" --- # A community that sees so clearly its own disadvantage or… ![“A community that sees so clearly its own disadvantage or its own hardships also has a harder time seeing its potential: its ability to work together to change the community and change their lives.” quote by Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/matthew-desmond-1529_change_a-community-that-sees-so-clearly-its-own_182863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/matthew-desmond-1529_change_a-community-that-sees-so-clearly-its-own_182863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/matthew-desmond-1529_change_a-community-that-sees-so-clearly-its-own_182863.jpg) > “A community that sees so clearly its own disadvantage or its own hardships also has a harder time seeing its potential: its ability to work together to change the community and change their lives.” [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a community focuses on its hardships, it struggles to envision collective potential and collaborative change. **In simple terms:** Hardships can blind communities to their own strengths. Key Takeaway Shift focus from problems to possibilities and teamwork. Themes community self‑perception potential collaboration change Mood reflective optimistic Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - neighborhood meetings - community planning - youth programs - local initiatives Key Concepts mindset collective efficacy empowerment social capital Questions to Reflect On - What strengths does your community have? - How can you foster a shared vision? A Different Perspective Overcoming entrenched pessimism can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-together/) ## Related quotes > [I thought I could make change by just working at ground level, but to change a community, you have to change policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/i-thought-i-could-make-change-by-just-working-at-ground-level-but-to/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I realized if you can change a classroom, you can change a community, and if you change enough communities you can change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-gruwell/i-realized-if-you-can-change-a-classroom-you-can-change-a-community/) [Erin Gruwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-gruwell/) > [The black community sees itself as one group, and they are all experiencing the same experiences as a group with racism and whatnot, growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-navedo/the-black-community-sees-itself-as-one-group-and-they-are-all/) [Andrea Navedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-navedo/) > [Brands must empower their community to be change agents in their own right. 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I couldn't wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/the-sentiment-that-i-had-a-little-trouble-with-was-the-idea-that-you/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [The antidote to climate change is community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starhawk/the-antidote-to-climate-change-is-community/) [Starhawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starhawk/) > [If we are going to make the change from community to communitas, and not just end up with an unsustainable adrenaline-junkie culture, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/if-we-are-going-to-make-the-change-from-community-to-communitas-and/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) ## More by Matthew Desmond > [I don't think we can fix poverty without fixing housing, and I don't think we can address housing without understanding landlords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/i-don-t-think-we-can-fix-poverty-without-fixing-housing-and-i-don-t/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [If we continue to tolerate this level of poverty in our cities, and go along with eviction as commonplace in poor neighborhoods, it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/if-we-continue-to-tolerate-this-level-of-poverty-in-our-cities-and-go/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [You see one eviction, and you're overcome, but then there's another one and another one and another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/you-see-one-eviction-and-you-re-overcome-but-then-there-s-another-one/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [When I talk to booksellers, they tell me how hard it is to hand-sell some of my books because I do keep popping around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/when-i-talk-to-booksellers-they-tell-me-how-hard-it-is-to-hand-sell/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [Housing being a top-order issue for cities is something that's not trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-desmond/housing-being-a-top-order-issue-for-cities-is-something-that-s-not/) [Matthew Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-desmond/) > [I think that we value fairness in this country. 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