--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to develop ways so that you can…" description: "\"You have to develop ways so that you can take up for yourself, and then you take up for someone else. And so sooner or later, you have enough courage t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/maya-angelou-104_courage_you-have-to-develop-ways-so-that-you-can_2575710.png" --- # You have to develop ways so that you can take up for… ![“You have to develop ways so that you can take up for yourself, and then you take up for someone else. And so sooner or later, you have enough courage to really stand up for the human race and say, 'I'm a representative. '” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/maya-angelou-104_courage_you-have-to-develop-ways-so-that-you-can_2575710.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/maya-angelou-104_courage_you-have-to-develop-ways-so-that-you-can_2575710.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/maya-angelou-104_courage_you-have-to-develop-ways-so-that-you-can_2575710.png) > “You have to develop ways so that you can take up for yourself, and then you take up for someone else. And so sooner or later, you have enough courage to really stand up for the human race and say, 'I'm a representative. '” [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## 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 development first, then using that strength to help others, ultimately representing humanity. **In simple terms:** Help yourself, then help others. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑advocacy before advocating for others. Themes self‑advocacy community humanity leadership Mood inspirational reflective Type personal social When to use this quote - mentoring - activism - public speaking - community organizing Key Concepts personal growth social responsibility civic duty Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly stand up for the human race? - How does personal courage translate to collective action? 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We ascribe the virtue to all manner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/in-our-blessed-and-mostly-peaceful-society-we-re-not-as-familiar-with/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“Change will never happen if you lack the ability and courage to see yourself for who you really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/change-will-never-happen-if-you-lack-the-ability-and-courage-to-see/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“I guess true courage is when you're really scared but you still do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-guess-true-courage-is-when-you-re-really-scared-but-you-still-do-it/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [You have to have faith that there is a reason you go through certain things. I can't say I'm glad to go through pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/you-have-to-have-faith-that-there-is-a-reason-you-go-through-certain/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [Even the pluckiest among us has but seldom the courage of what he really knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/even-the-pluckiest-among-us-has-but-seldom-the-courage-of-what-he/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The courage of all one really knows comes but late in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-courage-of-all-one-really-knows-comes-but-late-in-life/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I'm definitely guilty of turning tail and running in places in my life. It's the lack of courage, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/i-m-definitely-guilty-of-turning-tail-and-running-in-places-in-my/) [Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/) > [“Letting you go right now is the most unselfish thing I’ve ever done.” “You’re the one who gave me the courage to really believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/letting-you-go-right-now-is-the-most-unselfish-thing-i-ve-ever-done/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [I learned to love who I am despite what anyone would say about or to me. This gave me the courage to really stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-harlow/i-learned-to-love-who-i-am-despite-what-anyone-would-say-about-or-to/) [Winnie Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-harlow/) > [There are looks that I see on other people that I think would look horrible on me, but I think if somebody has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/there-are-looks-that-i-see-on-other-people-that-i-think-would-look/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [Even the bravest only rarely have courage for what they really know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/even-the-bravest-only-rarely-have-courage-for-what-they-really-know/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [You have to fight, you have to have courage for what you really want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/you-have-to-fight-you-have-to-have-courage-for-what-you-really-want/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“What matters is attitude and courage to really do what your heart tells you to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-shenoy/what-matters-is-attitude-and-courage-to-really-do-what-your-heart/) [Preeti Shenoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preeti-shenoy/) > [It takes courage to become what you really you are and what you are destined to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-courage-to-become-what-you-really-you-are-and-what-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Personal courage is really a very subordinate virtue-a virtue, indeed, in which we are surpassed by the lower animals; or else you would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/personal-courage-is-really-a-very-subordinate-virtue-a-virtue-indeed/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## More by Maya Angelou > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. 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Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-is-going-to-give-you-just-what-you-put-in-it-put-your-whole/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-may-write-me-down-in-history-with-your-bitter-twisted-lies-you/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-more-you-know-of-your-history-the-more-liberated-you-are/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Life offers us tickets to places which we have not knowingly asked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/life-offers-us-tickets-to-places-which-we-have-not-knowingly-asked-for/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Nathaniel Hawthorne once said that easy reading is damn hard writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/nathaniel-hawthorne-once-said-that-easy-reading-is-damn-hard-writing/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Sunday, if I'm lucky, I'll go to church or listen to some good spiritual advice on the television or on the radio. I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/sunday-if-i-m-lucky-i-ll-go-to-church-or-listen-to-some-good/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Explore all 1,313 Maya Angelou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [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/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have to develop ways so that you can take up for yourself, and then you take up for someone else. 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