--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can move in that direction as a…" description: "\"“We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization - black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/robert-f-kennedy-29776_black-people_we-can-move-in-that-direction-as-a-count_2061558.jpg" --- # We can move in that direction as a country, in greater… ![“We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization - black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of…” quote by Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/robert-f-kennedy-29776_black-people_we-can-move-in-that-direction-as-a-count_2061558.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/robert-f-kennedy-29776_black-people_we-can-move-in-that-direction-as-a-count_2061558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/robert-f-kennedy-29776_black-people_we-can-move-in-that-direction-as-a-count_2061558.jpg) > ““We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization - black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward one another. Or we can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand, compassion and love… What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.”” [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The nation faces division and hatred; we must choose love, compassion, and justice over violence and separation. **In simple terms:** Choose unity and compassion instead of division. Key Takeaway Promote empathy and justice across communities. Themes unity justice compassion Mood hopeful determined Type oratorical inspirational When to use this quote - community dialogues - policy reform - education curricula - media narratives Key Concepts social cohesion civil rights peacebuilding Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster lasting compassion? - What actions reduce societal hatred? A Different Perspective Deep-rooted systemic issues may hinder immediate unity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion And Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-and-love/) [Compassion Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-love/) [Eulogy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eulogy/) [Hatred Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-need-453160/) [Love and wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-wisdom/) [Luther King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther-king/) [Martin luther king jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Te Amo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/te-amo/) [Understand Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-compassion-623243/) ## Related quotes > [What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/what-we-need-in-the-united-states-is-not-division-what-we-need-in-the-2/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [To embrace suffering culminates in greater empathy, the capacity to feel what it is like for the other to suffer, which is the ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/to-embrace-suffering-culminates-in-greater-empathy-the-capacity-to/) [Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/) > [“It is hard to draw any line between compassion and love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/it-is-hard-to-draw-any-line-between-compassion-and-love/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Compassion and love, that's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/compassion-and-love-that-s-all/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [There are many people out there (me being one of them) who can vouch that animals have feelings; they feel compassion and love, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/there-are-many-people-out-there-me-being-one-of-them-who-can-vouch/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [I don't know how we can fix a world where people have been so convinced that they are doing the right thing out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillahunty/i-don-t-know-how-we-can-fix-a-world-where-people-have-been-so/) [Matt Dillahunty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillahunty/) > [You are joy, wisdom, peace, compassion, and love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/you-are-joy-wisdom-peace-compassion-and-love/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Our world can be moved Godward only by leaders who have shared to a deep degree the heartbreak as He looks in compassion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-l-duewel/our-world-can-be-moved-godward-only-by-leaders-who-have-shared-to-a/) [Wesley L Duewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-l-duewel/) > [“When catastrophe strikes compassion and love unite. A storm can't break the spirit of love. A storm may crack your windows, tear off your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-lee/when-catastrophe-strikes-compassion-and-love-unite-a-storm-can-t/) [Melody Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-lee/) > [I've got to love the souls of people. Because I can't love every incarnation. I have to identify with my own soul. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-ve-got-to-love-the-souls-of-people-because-i-can-t-love-every/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/let-us-develop-respect-for-all-living-things-let-us-try-to-replace/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [When the energy of compassion and love touches us, healing establishes itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-the-energy-of-compassion-and-love-touches-us-healing-establishes/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Spirituality is allowing compassion and love to flourish. When belongness begins, corruption ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/spirituality-is-allowing-compassion-and-love-to-flourish-when/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > ['Les Miserables', the book, 'Les Miserables', the musical - it's about giving; it's about goodness. It's about compassion and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-wilkinson/les-miserables-the-book-les-miserables-the-musical-it-s-about-giving/) [Colm Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-wilkinson/) > [“The kindness sent from one compassionate soul to another during the time of loss of one held so dear allows the sorrow-filled heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/the-kindness-sent-from-one-compassionate-soul-to-another-during-the/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) ## More by Robert F. Kennedy > [“the President was deciding, for the U.S., the Soviet Union, Turkey, NATO, and really for all mankind….”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/the-president-was-deciding-for-the-u-s-the-soviet-union-turkey-nato/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“First is the danger of futility; the belief there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/first-is-the-danger-of-futility-the-belief-there-is-nothing-one-man/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“A revolution is coming – a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/a-revolution-is-coming-a-revolution-which-will-be-peaceful-if-we-are/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/few-will-have-the-greatness-to-bend-history-itself-but-each-of-us-can/) [Robert F. 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Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/but-we-can-perhaps-remember-if-only-for-a-time-that-those-who-live/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“That was the beginning of the Cuban missile crisis—a confrontation between the two giant atomic nations, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., which brought the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/that-was-the-beginning-of-the-cuban-missile-crisis-a-confrontation/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“The responsibility of our time is nothing less than a revolution. A revolution that would be peaceful if we are wise enough; humane if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/the-responsibility-of-our-time-is-nothing-less-than-a-revolution-a/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“But the greatest danger of all would be to do nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/but-the-greatest-danger-of-all-would-be-to-do-nothing/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“What my father said about businessmen applies to liberals ... They're sons of bitches. The people who are selfish are interested in their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/what-my-father-said-about-businessmen-applies-to-liberals-they-re/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“I did not lie awake at night worrying about the problems of Negroes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/i-did-not-lie-awake-at-night-worrying-about-the-problems-of-negroes/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/we-must-admit-the-vanity-of-our-false-distinctions-among-men-and/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [“The future will be shaped by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/the-future-will-be-shaped-by-those-willing-to-commit-their-minds-and/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 17 Robert F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) ## More Black people quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Black Privilege is a concrete motive that black people benefit from, such as racism but racism on whites. 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We don't have laws that segregate black people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/well-of-course-there-s-been-a-great-deal-of-progress-over-the-last-40/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we loved black culture?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/what-would-america-be-like-if-we-loved-black-people-as-much-as-we/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [“Any ministry to black people which is not designed to effect their empowerment is designed to perpetuate their enslavement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-ministry-to-black-people-which-is-not-designed-to-effect-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-nkosi/all-black-people-who-are-even-minimally-conscious-black-people-who/) [Lewis Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-nkosi/) > [Even during my youth, I can recall very few black people living on any kind of public assistance. 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