--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 1962, the smallest things were…" description: "\"In 1962, the smallest things were upsetting to authority. It wasn't the Civil Rights Movement. It wasn't the Anti-war Movement. It was something else, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/peter-riegert-23510_anti-war_in-1962-the-smallest-things-were-upsetti_3165823.jpg" --- # In 1962, the smallest things were upsetting to authority… ![“In 1962, the smallest things were upsetting to authority. It wasn't the Civil Rights Movement. It wasn't the Anti-war Movement. It was something else, but it was a harbinger of what was to come.” quote by Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/peter-riegert-23510_anti-war_in-1962-the-smallest-things-were-upsetti_3165823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/peter-riegert-23510_anti-war_in-1962-the-smallest-things-were-upsetti_3165823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/peter-riegert-23510_anti-war_in-1962-the-smallest-things-were-upsetti_3165823.jpg) > “In 1962, the smallest things were upsetting to authority. It wasn't the Civil Rights Movement. It wasn't the Anti-war Movement. It was something else, but it was a harbinger of what was to come.” [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small acts of defiance foreshadow larger societal shifts, hinting at upcoming major movements. **In simple terms:** Minor protests signal bigger changes ahead. Key Takeaway Notice early signs of dissent. Themes social change history protest Mood analytical historical Type explanatory reflective When to use this quote - civil rights - anti-war movements - grassroots activism Key Concepts cultural momentum political theory Questions to Reflect On - What small actions today could predict tomorrow's movements? - How can societies respond to early dissent? A Different Perspective Early signs may be ignored, missing opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-war/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights-movement/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-movement/) ## Related quotes > [The civil rights movement wasn't easy for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/the-civil-rights-movement-wasn-t-easy-for-anybody/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [The Civil Rights Movement, it wasn't just a couple of, you know, superstars like Martin Luther King. It was thousands and thousands - millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/the-civil-rights-movement-it-wasn-t-just-a-couple-of-you-know/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [I created no authority that wasn't already there under the constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-engler/i-created-no-authority-that-wasn-t-already-there-under-the/) [John Engler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-engler/) > [“The movement was in me, but it wasn’t me. It was another little something, a someone, willfully choosing to flex his flippery future arms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/the-movement-was-in-me-but-it-wasn-t-me-it-was-another-little/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [Dr. Martin Luther King was never a man to say 'I've got this' as the leader of the movement. He wasn't always sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/dr-martin-luther-king-was-never-a-man-to-say-i-ve-got-this-as-the/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/for-me-purity-of-movement-wasn-t-enough-i-needed-expression-more/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I... was not too happy to suddenly take on this public role thrust upon me. 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But ever since then, I've been very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/my-mum-and-dad-split-up-when-i-was-five-years-old-and-that-was-quite/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [Wanna know whats upsetting? My sister crying for her farther.She wants him for christmas.I think it would be a wonderful christmas present.But you cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazzy/wanna-know-whats-upsetting-my-sister-crying-for-her-farther-she-wants/) [Jazzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazzy/) > [“We want you gone. Your presence is obviously upsetting for her." "Oh, aye, the poor, wee lass -- who tossed me like a skipping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/we-want-you-gone-your-presence-is-obviously-upsetting-for-her-oh-aye/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“We always want someone we've treated badly to be gay. It's less upsetting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-sagan/we-always-want-someone-we-ve-treated-badly-to-be-gay-it-s-less/) [Françoise Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-sagan/) > [I just can't think how I would go on without children having lost Edith already... It's too upsetting for me to write about them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-frank/i-just-can-t-think-how-i-would-go-on-without-children-having-lost/) [Otto Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-frank/) > [There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/there-was-a-lot-of-stress-and-assumptions-made-without-me-even-saying/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) ## More by Peter Riegert > [There are times when you have to fight for something you believe in, that you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/there-are-times-when-you-have-to-fight-for-something-you-believe-in/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [I think when you're younger, as an actor you have much more of a notion that you are doing something to the audience. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-think-when-you-re-younger-as-an-actor-you-have-much-more-of-a/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [In 2000, I realized I had reached that certain age when the parts get scarcer. So I decided to try my hand at directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/in-2000-i-realized-i-had-reached-that-certain-age-when-the-parts-get/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [There is a temptation for an actor to editorialize what they're doing. And you can't do that with Pinter. It's almost like a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/there-is-a-temptation-for-an-actor-to-editorialize-what-they-re-doing/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [Ease is something that I think many admire in other people, in sports or whatever it may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/ease-is-something-that-i-think-many-admire-in-other-people-in-sports/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [I did 'Animal House' in 1978, then 'Local Hero' in 1983, and then in '88, 'Crossing Delancey.' And I realized that every three to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-did-animal-house-in-1978-then-local-hero-in-1983-and-then-in-88/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [A movie is a filmed rehearsal in a way. The audience doesn't know that because you're taking out the things that don't work. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/a-movie-is-a-filmed-rehearsal-in-a-way-the-audience-doesn-t-know-that/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [I apply the three gag rule, which is if I can read a script without gagging more than three times, then maybe I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-apply-the-three-gag-rule-which-is-if-i-can-read-a-script-without/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [Obviously, any time you're closer in terms of what your knowledge is to a character, you can add something. But an actor's job is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/obviously-any-time-you-re-closer-in-terms-of-what-your-knowledge-is/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [You realize Shakespeare wasn't stuck for an idea when he said, 'All the world's a stage.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/you-realize-shakespeare-wasn-t-stuck-for-an-idea-when-he-said-all-the/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [I like Guinness, and that will make anyone Irish. That and soda bread, and I'm good to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-like-guinness-and-that-will-make-anyone-irish-that-and-soda-bread/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [When you get older, unless you're a huge star, the parts become less and the competition becomes greater. Because the guys left standing are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/when-you-get-older-unless-you-re-a-huge-star-the-parts-become-less/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [It never occurs to me that acting with a superstar is something to worry about. I figure the bigger the better because more will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/it-never-occurs-to-me-that-acting-with-a-superstar-is-something-to/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [I got to learn from the American audience. Hearing what it is they're not getting. These are audiences, 35 to 40, an older demographic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-got-to-learn-from-the-american-audience-hearing-what-it-is-they-re/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [There are movies I've seen or books I've read that attach themselves in a way that's greater than the ability to understand why. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/there-are-movies-i-ve-seen-or-books-i-ve-read-that-attach-themselves/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) [Explore all 26 Peter Riegert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) ## More Anti war quotes > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... 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He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-moral-and-constitutional-obligations-of-our-representatives-in/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The way I'm going now is to focus on peace, to create peace. As Sister Corita said, "I don't go to anti-war rallies. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/the-way-i-m-going-now-is-to-focus-on-peace-to-create-peace-as-sister/) [Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/) > [Here's the thing. Just because you're pro-troops doesn't mean you're pro-war. 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