--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world - and America - has been…" description: "\"The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is part of our nation..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/rory-kennedy-25803_civil-disobedience_the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-b_15010.jpg" --- # The world - and America - has been defined by people who… ![“The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is part of our nation's history and has redirected our country in many instances, from the feminist movement to the Civil Rights movement and beyond.” quote by Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/rory-kennedy-25803_civil-disobedience_the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-b_15010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/rory-kennedy-25803_civil-disobedience_the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-b_15010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/rory-kennedy-25803_civil-disobedience_the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-b_15010.jpg) > “The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is part of our nation's history and has redirected our country in many instances, from the feminist movement to the Civil Rights movement and beyond.” [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civil disobedience, though illegal, has historically driven pivotal social reforms in the U.S., reshaping laws and norms through collective moral action. **In simple terms:** Illegal protest can spark legal change. Key Takeaway Moral defiance reshapes society. Themes civil disobedience social movements legal reform moral activism historical change collective action Mood defiant hopeful inspirational Type political historical motivational When to use this quote - protesting unjust laws - organizing mass demonstrations - challenging discriminatory policies - advocating for gender equality - mobilizing for civil rights Key Concepts law vs. morality grassroots activism rights expansion cultural shift Practical Applications - policy advocacy - public awareness campaigns Questions to Reflect On - When does breaking the law become ethically justified? - How can societies balance order with moral progress? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/) [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/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedience/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Feminist movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist-movement/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think one of the tragedies of the civil rights movement was because the civil rights movement became so court-focused, I think that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-one-of-the-tragedies-of-the-civil-rights-movement-was-because/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The elites hate to acknowledge it, but when large numbers of ordinary people are moved to action, it changes the narrow political world where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-baker/the-elites-hate-to-acknowledge-it-but-when-large-numbers-of-ordinary/) [Dean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-baker/) > [I was part of the peace movement and part of the civil rights movement. You know what we heard? 'The majority of people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-dellums/i-was-part-of-the-peace-movement-and-part-of-the-civil-rights/) [Ron Dellums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-dellums/) > [France is a country where life is more than just your job. I feel like, in America, you're defined by your work. But in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia-landeau/france-is-a-country-where-life-is-more-than-just-your-job-i-feel-like/) Alexia Landeau > [“The United States of America, as defined in The Constitution thereof, is not a democracy, nor was it ever envisioned as such or intended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-united-states-of-america-as-defined-in-the-constitution-thereof/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [It's opportunity. It's opportunity, not a check from government - it's opportunity that has always driven America and defined us as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/it-s-opportunity-it-s-opportunity-not-a-check-from-government-it-s/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Young people, throughout history, have always been the lifeblood of every movement for civil and human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/young-people-throughout-history-have-always-been-the-lifeblood-of/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [My parents demonstrated against the Vietnam war, they were into the civil rights movement, the feminist movement, they started the first vegetarian restaurant in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-sane/my-parents-demonstrated-against-the-vietnam-war-they-were-into-the/) [Justin Sane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-sane/) > [“The rhetoric of ‘law and order’ was first mobilized in the late 1950s as Southern governors and law enforcement officials attempted to generate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-rhetoric-of-law-and-order-was-first-mobilized-in-the-late-1950s/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Okay, so here's my question: When did civility become incompatible with protest? Why do some people consider civility an antonym - anathema, even -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/okay-so-here-s-my-question-when-did-civility-become-incompatible-with/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) > [The feminist movement has been important to me because it's made me feel less odd and also because it has made me understand some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-feminist-movement-has-been-important-to-me-because-it-s-made-me/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The feminist movement has helped open minds and kitchens to the notion that men can be at home on the range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-veaux/the-feminist-movement-has-helped-open-minds-and-kitchens-to-the/) Rene Veaux > [My parents were civil rights activists, and my mother was active in the feminist movement. Issues concerning marginalized people and especially women of color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-holmes/my-parents-were-civil-rights-activists-and-my-mother-was-active-in/) [Anna Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-holmes/) > [It used to be, if you wanted to have a strong, influential voice in the feminist movement, you really needed to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/it-used-to-be-if-you-wanted-to-have-a-strong-influential-voice-in-the/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Monarchs not only fashion their age, but are fashioned by it, so that they can become a sort of personification of the age. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-figes/monarchs-not-only-fashion-their-age-but-are-fashioned-by-it-so-that/) [Eva Figes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-figes/) ## More by Rory Kennedy > [Sometimes we want to engage in a war for financial reasons, for strategic reasons, for moral reasons, for all sorts of reasons, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/sometimes-we-want-to-engage-in-a-war-for-financial-reasons-for/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [The thing is that my father's story helps to communicate what was at stake with my mother, and my mother and father had so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-thing-is-that-my-father-s-story-helps-to-communicate-what-was-at/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I had long been resistant to doing a documentary about my mother for personal reasons. And I thought there was no way she'd want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-had-long-been-resistant-to-doing-a-documentary-about-my-mother-for/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I think it can be really powerful, and one of the reasons I love making films is I do feel they can reach beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-think-it-can-be-really-powerful-and-one-of-the-reasons-i-love/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I'm not sure I would make a direct connection between having press attention as a young person and being interested in the media as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-m-not-sure-i-would-make-a-direct-connection-between-having-press/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I am now using media as a tool to bring attention to marginalized people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-am-now-using-media-as-a-tool-to-bring-attention-to-marginalized/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I was attracted to filmmaking in college because of my love of storytelling. You can have such an impact and reach a broader audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-was-attracted-to-filmmaking-in-college-because-of-my-love-of/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I've always been interested in Vietnam, feel it's a seminal event in our nation's history, and have explored it over the years - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-vietnam-feel-it-s-a-seminal-event-in/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I never aspire to be objective because I don't believe in objectivity. It's important to be truthful, and it's important to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-never-aspire-to-be-objective-because-i-don-t-believe-in-objectivity/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [With 'Women in Hollywood,' I didn't direct it, but I produced it, and what we did is followed the money of Hollywood and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/with-women-in-hollywood-i-didn-t-direct-it-but-i-produced-it-and-what/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [People standing up and saying, 'This isn't right,' is certainly a quality I admire in specific circumstances. There are people who do that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/people-standing-up-and-saying-this-isn-t-right-is-certainly-a-quality/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [The U.S. has represented throughout its history a commitment to human rights and the law - shining a light on what happened at Abu…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-u-s-has-represented-throughout-its-history-a-commitment-to-human/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [You need to think, when you get involved in wars, how you're going to get out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/you-need-to-think-when-you-get-involved-in-wars-how-you-re-going-to/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I'm all for having an empowered first lady who can really use that position to improve conditions, be a role model and make change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-m-all-for-having-an-empowered-first-lady-who-can-really-use-that/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I've been doing documentaries for about 25 years and want to continue to do that, but I love the idea of working in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-ve-been-doing-documentaries-for-about-25-years-and-want-to-continue/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) [Explore all 22 Rory Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) ## More Civil disobedience quotes > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [When you say 'no' and you get on the streets and you do an act of civil disobedience, it changes your psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-bradbrook/when-you-say-no-and-you-get-on-the-streets-and-you-do-an-act-of-civil/) [Gail Bradbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-bradbrook/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [My first civil disobedience arrest for social justice was in 1986 for protesting the SDI.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/my-first-civil-disobedience-arrest-for-social-justice-was-in-1986-for/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Civil disobedience is a stimulation for the fighters and a challenge to the opponent, in the present instance, authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/civil-disobedience-is-a-stimulation-for-the-fighters-and-a-challenge/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The only word these corporations know is more,” wrote Chris Hedges, former correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, and the New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/the-only-word-these-corporations-know-is-more-wrote-chris-hedges/) [Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/) > [A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-wise-man-will-not-leave-the-right-to-the-mercy-of-chance-nor-wish/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-became-convinced-that-noncooperation-with-evil-is-as-much-a-moral/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [New concepts should be introduced by the power of imagery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coop/new-concepts-should-be-introduced-by-the-power-of-imagery/) Douglas Coop > [Civil disobedience can help to focus attention on a particular injustice. It was used historically to highlight wrongs in society - turning ancient redwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/civil-disobedience-can-help-to-focus-attention-on-a-particular/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [I see a lot of individual action when it comes to environmental questions really as a form of politics as a way of communicating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/i-see-a-lot-of-individual-action-when-it-comes-to-environmental/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [“Our legislators have not yet learned the comparative value of free-trade and of freedom, of union, and of rectitude, to a nation. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-legislators-have-not-yet-learned-the-comparative-value-of-free/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The greatest mistake a people can make is to hesitate even for a single second to overthrow a greedy government that cares only about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-greatest-mistake-a-people-can-make-is-to-hesitate-even-for-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 248 Civil disobedience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. 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