--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing is to raise hell,” says…" description: "\"“The first thing is to raise hell,” says I. “That’s always the first thing to do when you’re faced with an injustice and you feel powerless. That’s wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/mother-jones-16588_justice_the-first-thing-is-to-raise-hell-says-i_654112.jpg" --- # The first thing is to raise hell,” says I. “That’s always… ![“The first thing is to raise hell,” says I. “That’s always the first thing to do when you’re faced with an injustice and you feel powerless. That’s what I do in my fight for the working class.” quote by Mother Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/mother-jones-16588_justice_the-first-thing-is-to-raise-hell-says-i_654112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/mother-jones-16588_justice_the-first-thing-is-to-raise-hell-says-i_654112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/mother-jones-16588_justice_the-first-thing-is-to-raise-hell-says-i_654112.jpg) > ““The first thing is to raise hell,” says I. “That’s always the first thing to do when you’re faced with an injustice and you feel powerless. That’s what I do in my fight for the working class.”” Mother Jones ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker advocates confronting injustice aggressively as a first response when feeling powerless. **In simple terms:** Fight injustice head‑on when you feel powerless. Key Takeaway Take decisive action against unfairness. Themes activism justice empowerment Mood determined defiant Type political motivational When to use this quote - labor protests - community organizing - political campaigns - personal advocacy Key Concepts social movements political theory Questions to Reflect On - Is confrontation always the best first step? - What alternatives exist when feeling powerless? A Different Perspective Aggressive tactics can alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/) ## Related quotes > [I have never had a vote, and I have raised hell all over this country. You don't need a vote to raise hell! You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/i-have-never-had-a-vote-and-i-have-raised-hell-all-over-this-country/) Mother Jones > [“Sometimes it is necessary to be very angry when an injustice is done to you or to others. So why? 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We said, we have nothing to lose, so we can raise hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-kuhn/being-sixty-five-became-a-crossroads-we-said-we-have-nothing-to-lose/) [Maggie Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-kuhn/) > [I want to be sure...that nothing is done on these veterans. Is that understood?...Is the word out? That they are not to touch em,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-want-to-be-sure-that-nothing-is-done-on-these-veterans-is-that/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [Raise hell - big time. I want y'all to get out there and raise hell about damned near everything. My word, there's a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/raise-hell-big-time-i-want-y-all-to-get-out-there-and-raise-hell/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [“they raise hell 'cause nobody raised them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-x-walker/they-raise-hell-cause-nobody-raised-them/) Frank X Walker ## More by Mother Jones > [a TEN-YEAR-OLD lad in Indianapolis who was arrested for picking up coal along the side of railroad tracks is now in jail. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/a-ten-year-old-lad-in-indianapolis-who-was-arrested-for-picking-up/) Mother Jones > [That is, the wife must care for what the husband cares for if he is to remain resolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/that-is-the-wife-must-care-for-what-the-husband-cares-for-if-he-is-to/) Mother Jones > [I have never had a vote, and I have raised hell all over this country. You don't need a vote to raise hell! You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/i-have-never-had-a-vote-and-i-have-raised-hell-all-over-this-country/) Mother Jones > [Freedom for the working class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/freedom-for-the-working-class/) Mother Jones > [All the average human being asks is something he can call a home; a family that is fed and warm; and now and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/all-the-average-human-being-asks-is-something-he-can-call-a-home-a/) Mother Jones > [The militant not the meek shall inherit the earth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/the-militant-not-the-meek-shall-inherit-the-earth/) Mother Jones > [Whatever your fight, don't be ladylike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-jones/whatever-your-fight-don-t-be-ladylike/) Mother Jones > [...Poetic injustice...having made over Japan in our own image. 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Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first thing is to raise hell,” says I. “That’s always the first thing to do when you’re faced with an injustice and you feel powerless. 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