--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First, they came for the bigots, and I…" description: "\"“First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing, because I didn’t believe I was a bigot, then…it was really nice, it turned out it was the bigots ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/robin-ince-19180_bigotry_first-they-came-for-the-bigots-and-i-sai_318556.jpg" --- # First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing… ![“First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing, because I didn’t believe I was a bigot, then…it was really nice, it turned out it was the bigots who’d been the main issue. We just all went out and had a lovely picnic together.” quote by Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/robin-ince-19180_bigotry_first-they-came-for-the-bigots-and-i-sai_318556.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/robin-ince-19180_bigotry_first-they-came-for-the-bigots-and-i-sai_318556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/robin-ince-19180_bigotry_first-they-came-for-the-bigots-and-i-sai_318556.jpg) > ““First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing, because I didn’t believe I was a bigot, then…it was really nice, it turned out it was the bigots who’d been the main issue. We just all went out and had a lovely picnic together.”” [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence in the face of injustice enables its spread; complacency is dangerous. **In simple terms:** Speak up against oppression. Key Takeaway Never stay silent when rights are threatened. Themes justice responsibility activism Mood concerned determined Type motivational cautionary When to use this quote - political protest - workplace discrimination - online harassment - community advocacy Key Concepts Ethics political apathy Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you saw injustice? - How can you safely intervene? A Different Perspective Speaking out can provoke backlash or personal risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Bigots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigots/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t become bigoted about bigots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ross/don-t-become-bigoted-about-bigots/) Scott Ross > [Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/those-who-will-not-reason-are-bigots-those-who-cannot-are-fools-and/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [A proud bigot, who is vain enough to think that he can deceive even God by affected zeal, and throwing the veil of holiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/a-proud-bigot-who-is-vain-enough-to-think-that-he-can-deceive-even/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Bigotry may be roughly defined as the anger of men who have no opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/bigotry-may-be-roughly-defined-as-the-anger-of-men-who-have-no/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The term religious cleansing is an accurate and effective way of expressing the current hostility and bigotry toward all civic expressions of religion... these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/the-term-religious-cleansing-is-an-accurate-and-effective-way-of/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [The sad truth about bigotry is that most bigots either don't realize that they are bigots, or they convince themselves that their bigotry is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/the-sad-truth-about-bigotry-is-that-most-bigots-either-don-t-realize/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [“I don't mind bigots. You're allowed to be bigoted, if that makes you happy. Just do it at home. And not around the children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-don-t-mind-bigots-you-re-allowed-to-be-bigoted-if-that-makes-you/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [There are two kinds of people I cannot abide: bigots and any well-organized ethnic group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-i-cannot-abide-bigots-and-any-well/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I couldn't join a party that, frankly, tolerates members who are bigots for one thing, homophobes, racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/i-couldn-t-join-a-party-that-frankly-tolerates-members-who-are-bigots/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [“In some cases, I am able to respect what so many call bigots. Such people have a more solid foundation for drawing their lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/in-some-cases-i-am-able-to-respect-what-so-many-call-bigots-such/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [We don't lump people by groups or special interests. And let me add, in the party of Lincoln there is no room for intolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-don-t-lump-people-by-groups-or-special-interests-and-let-me-add-in/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“No travel can broaden a bigoted mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-travel-can-broaden-a-bigoted-mind/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Bigots often like to say they're the ones being hurt as they oppress and hurt others. Never fall for the 'pity the privileged' routine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/bigots-often-like-to-say-they-re-the-ones-being-hurt-as-they-oppress/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [“Apes throw tantrum when they are insecure, pursuit of delusion soothes the vegetated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/apes-throw-tantrum-when-they-are-insecure-pursuit-of-delusion-soothes/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [While I fundamentally reject the notion that anyone who owned other human beings was either good, moral, or decent, Francis Scott Key left absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/while-i-fundamentally-reject-the-notion-that-anyone-who-owned-other/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) ## More by Robin Ince > [There can be a science to joke writing, there are certainly rules and patterns that can be followed, but I think most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/there-can-be-a-science-to-joke-writing-there-are-certainly-rules-and/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [Homeopaths do not have a physical brain, but merely 'skull water' with the memory of brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/homeopaths-do-not-have-a-physical-brain-but-merely-skull-water-with/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [I have faced up to what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/i-have-faced-up-to-what-i-am/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [My wife could turn to me and she may say, 'Why do you love me?' And I can with all honesty look her in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/my-wife-could-turn-to-me-and-she-may-say-why-do-you-love-me-and-i-can/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [“If you really want space on public transport you should carry some pornography from the 1970s and a pair of children's safety scissors, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/if-you-really-want-space-on-public-transport-you-should-carry-some/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [I have a theory that evolutionary biologists are more vain than particle physicists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/i-have-a-theory-that-evolutionary-biologists-are-more-vain-than/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [Not since Jimmy Carr have I seen a cold computer programme on stage generate so much laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/not-since-jimmy-carr-have-i-seen-a-cold-computer-programme-on-stage/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [I have spent a reasonable percentage of my life in libraries - I like the hush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/i-have-spent-a-reasonable-percentage-of-my-life-in-libraries-i-like/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [The main battle is to make people realise that doubt is important. Doubt is good. The 'don't know' answer sometimes is the box you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/the-main-battle-is-to-make-people-realise-that-doubt-is-important/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [We very quickly forget about the wonderful things we've got. People lose their excitement because there's too much. Basically we're experiencing nothing, because everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/we-very-quickly-forget-about-the-wonderful-things-we-ve-got-people/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [“I wonder how it can be considered that science disenchants the world. The power of the spells of physics to make the empty solid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/i-wonder-how-it-can-be-considered-that-science-disenchants-the-world/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [I have a very vibrant imposter syndrome that goes on throughout most of my life, but nothing more than when someone has to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/i-have-a-very-vibrant-imposter-syndrome-that-goes-on-throughout-most/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [Science is very cross-generational; you're not just aiming it at twentysomethings, or eightysomethings. Every town's got a really broad selection of people and age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/science-is-very-cross-generational-you-re-not-just-aiming-it-at/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [As much as of course that Englishness of always to be embarrassed about any sense of complement, it is nice to know that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/as-much-as-of-course-that-englishness-of-always-to-be-embarrassed/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) > [They gave 12 monkeys a typewriter for a week, and after a week, they only used it as a bathroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-ince/they-gave-12-monkeys-a-typewriter-for-a-week-and-after-a-week-they/) [Robin Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) [Explore all 33 Robin Ince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-ince/) ## More Bigotry quotes > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bigoted people are just scholars who lack any sort of legitimate credentials to answer why they're bigoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/bigoted-people-are-just-scholars-who-lack-any-sort-of-legitimate/) Doctavius > [Sadly, we can't eliminate bigotry. But that doesn't mean we have to tolerate it, much less give it a platform on which to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/sadly-we-can-t-eliminate-bigotry-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Oh Beautiful For A Land That's Free Where All Can Congregate Together Live With No Degree Of Bigotry And Hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bee/oh-beautiful-for-a-land-that-s-free-where-all-can-congregate-together/) Kathy Bee > [“That’s the problem with indoctrination—the whole point of the First Order’s kind of education is to stop someone from thinking and instead kick their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-indoctrination-the-whole-point-of-the-first/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-engel/too-small-is-our-world-to-allow-discrimination-bigotry-and/) [Eliot Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-engel/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, especially considering its emphases on timeless and critical topics like discrimination and prejudice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lovejoy/this-book-would-be-a-great-addition-to-a-classroom-library-especially/) [Sharon Lovejoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lovejoy/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Fear and Bigotry are bred fom isolation and ignorance. -Shekinah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-and-bigotry-are-bred-fom-isolation-and-ignorance-shekinah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 661 Bigotry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“First, they came for the bigots, and I said nothing, because I didn’t believe I was a bigot, then…it was really nice, it turned out it was the bigots who’d been the main issue. 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