--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't get involved with local…" description: "\"People don't get involved with local charities or politics because they think it's hard to make a difference and the problem feels overwhelming. But I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png" --- # People don't get involved with local charities or politics… ![“People don't get involved with local charities or politics because they think it's hard to make a difference and the problem feels overwhelming. But I believe that if all I've time for this year is to write one letter to the local council, it's still worth doing.” quote by Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png) > “People don't get involved with local charities or politics because they think it's hard to make a difference and the problem feels overwhelming. But I believe that if all I've time for this year is to write one letter to the local council, it's still worth doing.” [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People avoid local activism because they feel powerless, yet small actions like writing a letter can still matter. **In simple terms:** Small actions matter despite feeling overwhelmed. Key Takeaway Take one simple step today. Themes civic duty empowerment community action Mood determined hopeful Type motivational practical When to use this quote - writing to council - volunteering - attending meetings - organizing neighborhood clean‑up Key Concepts psychology of helplessness social impact behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What tiny action could you take this week? - How does a single letter influence larger policy? A Different Perspective If many only do tiny deeds, systemic change may stay slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Charities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charities/) [Charities Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charities-politics-5677957/) [Council](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/council/) [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-that/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Involved Local](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved-local-2997704/) [Letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letter/) [Letter Local](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letter-local-5677958/) [Local](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/local/) [Local Charities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/local-charities-5677959/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-a-difference/) [Make Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-difference/) [Overwhelming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelming/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's lovely when people are more involved in local politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-v-gordon/i-think-it-s-lovely-when-people-are-more-involved-in-local-politics/) [Emily V. Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-v-gordon/) > [All of the charities we're involved with have touched me in one way or another on a personal level. There are about eight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/all-of-the-charities-we-re-involved-with-have-touched-me-in-one-way/) [Ferguson Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferguson-jenkins/) > [There are two main organizations that rate charities. They look at their finances and decide whether they are giving enough to the causes they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/there-are-two-main-organizations-that-rate-charities-they-look-at/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [When I was at my lowest point I had a lot of help from charities, food banks, to see me through so it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/when-i-was-at-my-lowest-point-i-had-a-lot-of-help-from-charities-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I'm fully confident that I will win the jackpot - so much so that I've already made a list of all the charities I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-berkley/i-m-fully-confident-that-i-will-win-the-jackpot-so-much-so-that-i-ve/) [Shelley Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-berkley/) > [Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has long believed that he, his staff and players should be as devoted to family time as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-yaeger/dungy-head-coach-of-the-indianapolis-colts-has-long-believed-that-he/) [Don Yaeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-yaeger/) > [I support children's charities; I just don't want them around me. It's not very admirable, but it's the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-support-children-s-charities-i-just-don-t-want-them-around-me-it-s/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [It's not just about doing things in Utah or in France. It's about doing things everywhere and having an impact everywhere. There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-gobert/it-s-not-just-about-doing-things-in-utah-or-in-france-it-s-about/) [Rudy Gobert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-gobert/) > [My grandfather worked with charities his whole entire life, and we grew up living with him. He always told me about the other side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-lohan/my-grandfather-worked-with-charities-his-whole-entire-life-and-we/) [Ali Lohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-lohan/) > [I run a bunch of charities and I say this line to people: 'I am somebody who has always been helped.' A little thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-run-a-bunch-of-charities-and-i-say-this-line-to-people-i-am/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I'm one of those people that thinks the world changes in smaller and in more mysterious ways than a lot of people like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-collins/i-m-one-of-those-people-that-thinks-the-world-changes-in-smaller-and/) [Misha Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-collins/) > [In all the ages, three-fourths of the support of the great charities has been conscience money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-all-the-ages-three-fourths-of-the-support-of-the-great-charities/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Charities who support animal rights are actually asking people to show their obligation by doing fundraising or similar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-michael-of-kent/charities-who-support-animal-rights-are-actually-asking-people-to/) [Princess Michael of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-michael-of-kent/) > [What tournaments want to do, typically, is support charities in their community that need the money and charities that are impactful to their community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-finchem/what-tournaments-want-to-do-typically-is-support-charities-in-their/) [Tim Finchem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-finchem/) > [You know the way I play golf, it's a good I do these things for charities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantegna/you-know-the-way-i-play-golf-it-s-a-good-i-do-these-things-for/) [Joe Mantegna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantegna/) ## More by Monica Ali > [I don't want to get hung up on what 'people,' that nebulous mass, think about me. That's the way to unhappiness, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-don-t-want-to-get-hung-up-on-what-people-that-nebulous-mass-think/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“If God wanted us to ask questions, he would have made us men (page 80).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/if-god-wanted-us-to-ask-questions-he-would-have-made-us-men-page-80/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“And so they entwined their lives to drink from the pools of each other’s sadness. From these special watering holes, each man drew strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/and-so-they-entwined-their-lives-to-drink-from-the-pools-of-each/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Her words were as sharp as an eyeful of sand. She never raised her voice. It was the kind of voice that never needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/her-words-were-as-sharp-as-an-eyeful-of-sand-she-never-raised-her/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [A new car is not going to change your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/a-new-car-is-not-going-to-change-your-life/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [She touched his hand for the last time. "Oh, Karim, that we have already done. But always there was a problem between us. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/she-touched-his-hand-for-the-last-time-oh-karim-that-we-have-already/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Tevis being childless meant you felt a little sorry for her, and a bit jealous. Probably the same way she felt about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/tevis-being-childless-meant-you-felt-a-little-sorry-for-her-and-a-bit/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [Sometimes I look back and I am shocked. Everyday of my life I have prepared for success, worked for it, waited for it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/sometimes-i-look-back-and-i-am-shocked-everyday-of-my-life-i-have/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Life made its pattern around and beneath and through her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/life-made-its-pattern-around-and-beneath-and-through-her/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [I started writing 'Brick Lane' when my children were two years and five months old. We were on holiday in the north of England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/i-started-writing-brick-lane-when-my-children-were-two-years-and-five/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“The air was hot and wet, as if it had absorbed the sweat of countless bodies. It dripped also with scandal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/the-air-was-hot-and-wet-as-if-it-had-absorbed-the-sweat-of-countless/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Nishi's sister, who was sixteen years old, had gone for a "holiday" in Sylhet and returned six months later with a husband and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/nishi-s-sister-who-was-sixteen-years-old-had-gone-for-a-holiday-in/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [The thing about getting older is that you don't need everything to be possible any more, you just need things to be certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/the-thing-about-getting-older-is-that-you-don-t-need-everything-to-be/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [Character is always my driving force. And to tell a good story and to provide an entertaining read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/character-is-always-my-driving-force-and-to-tell-a-good-story-and-to/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [Outside of interviews, I spend very little time thinking about myself. I spend time thinking about my writing and my children and other things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/outside-of-interviews-i-spend-very-little-time-thinking-about-myself/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) [Explore all 46 Monica Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I was contacted by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP, through the Pune Film Institute and offered the post in the NFDC. I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) [Browse all 15,485 Because quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People don't get involved with local charities or politics because they think it's hard to make a difference and the problem feels overwhelming. But I believe that if all I've time for this year is to write one letter to the local council, it's still worth doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Monica Ali" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-charities-or-politics-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Because" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-charities-or-politics-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa4/monica-ali-14042_because_people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-cha_3154574.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People don't get involved with local charities or politics because they think it's hard to make a difference…” — Monica Ali", "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": "Monica Ali", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People don't get involved with local...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-charities-or-politics-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/people-don-t-get-involved-with-local-charities-or-politics-because/#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 } } ] } ```