--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think people instinctively know that…" description: "\"I think people instinctively know that their job is to give service and that they are part of a community. It had a great impact on me when my father w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png" --- # I think people instinctively know that their job is to… ![“I think people instinctively know that their job is to give service and that they are part of a community. It had a great impact on me when my father walked the picket lines and I walked with him during the civil rights movement.” quote by Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png) > “I think people instinctively know that their job is to give service and that they are part of a community. It had a great impact on me when my father walked the picket lines and I walked with him during the civil rights movement.” [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Service and community connection are innate, shaped by personal and familial experiences. **In simple terms:** Service is a natural part of community life. Key Takeaway Engage in acts that support your community. Themes service community legacy Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - union organizing - neighborhood projects - mentorship Key Concepts social responsibility family influence activism Questions to Reflect On - How does your family history shape your view of service? - What balance do you need between giving and self‑preservation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on service may neglect self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [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/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Community Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-great-1396013/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Know Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-job/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Instinctively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-instinctively-435516/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Service Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service-community-217187/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Walked Picket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walked-picket-6006530/) ## Related quotes > [People instinctively know the difference between something done with a profit motive and something done with a love motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/people-instinctively-know-the-difference-between-something-done-with/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“So how does it happen that -- while most people instinctively try to save themselves and their families from a catastrophe -- a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/so-how-does-it-happen-that-while-most-people-instinctively-try-to/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [“Most people instinctively follow a dominant trend in an organization or community, without critical evaluation of its merits. The herd instinct is strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-a-heifetz/most-people-instinctively-follow-a-dominant-trend-in-an-organization/) [Ronald A. Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-a-heifetz/) > [When times get tough, at some point, people instinctively know they need to lighten up in order to get through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-klein/when-times-get-tough-at-some-point-people-instinctively-know-they/) [Allen Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-klein/) > [Social media is not about the exploitation of technology but service to community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/social-media-is-not-about-the-exploitation-of-technology-but-service/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > ['Community' is a great show. I love 'Raising Hope' with Martha Plimpton. And I love 'The Middle' - another Chicagoan in there is Neil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-o-heir/community-is-a-great-show-i-love-raising-hope-with-martha-plimpton/) [Jim O'Heir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-o-heir/) > [The amount of attention and sensitivity and education that we're getting in terms of specifically the transgender community is great, and certainly that's new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaby-hoffmann/the-amount-of-attention-and-sensitivity-and-education-that-we-re/) [Gaby Hoffmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaby-hoffmann/) > [Being a part of the Packers, we do so much with the community. It's great to be in that situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordy-nelson/being-a-part-of-the-packers-we-do-so-much-with-the-community-it-s/) [Jordy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordy-nelson/) > [Yet one more item is needed to complete success, and that is the rendering of service to others in the community. Without this the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-one-more-item-is-needed-to-complete-success-and-that-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was a great community and great vibe at Arrowhead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-andersen/it-was-a-great-community-and-great-vibe-at-arrowhead/) [Morten Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-andersen/) > [Gatorade is doing some really awesome things in the community, and it's great being able to be a part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-lawrence/gatorade-is-doing-some-really-awesome-things-in-the-community-and-it/) [Trevor Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-lawrence/) > [I think that has to do with my awareness that in a sense we all have a certain measure of responsibility to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-that-has-to-do-with-my-awareness-that-in-a-sense-we-all-have-2/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [Cleveland is a really awesome community. There's some great people here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/cleveland-is-a-really-awesome-community-there-s-some-great-people-here/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Our compassion for one another, and our individual actions to help, is what makes our nation - and our community - great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/our-compassion-for-one-another-and-our-individual-actions-to-help-is/) [Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/) > [My style is to service my community through entertainment and products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-combs/my-style-is-to-service-my-community-through-entertainment-and-products/) [Sean Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-combs/) ## More by Russell Simmons > [I'm born into the cycle of giving that we're all born into, and I recognize it. So just because something is a good business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-m-born-into-the-cycle-of-giving-that-we-re-all-born-into-and-i/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Compassion is the ultimate expression of your highest self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/compassion-is-the-ultimate-expression-of-your-highest-self/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [If you don't break a hole through the brick wall, don't just start digging a new hole. Keep going until you break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-don-t-break-a-hole-through-the-brick-wall-don-t-just-start/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [There's one overriding issue, namely, that we live in a police state so long as the police get to police themselves. And that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/there-s-one-overriding-issue-namely-that-we-live-in-a-police-state-so/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I used to think anxiety and insomnia drove me to success, but it was the stillness that let me be good at anything. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-used-to-think-anxiety-and-insomnia-drove-me-to-success-but-it-was/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [ \[Performing artists\] are making greater percentages. People are going to live events more and it's a big success story for everyone - except the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/performing-artists-are-making-greater-percentages-people-are-going-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I think I will always have a connection to young people, to try to bring their voices to the polls, bring their voices wherever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-i-will-always-have-a-connection-to-young-people-to-try-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [The best defense for any group of people is what we do to defend other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-best-defense-for-any-group-of-people-is-what-we-do-to-defend/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [You have to be present, awake and happy now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/you-have-to-be-present-awake-and-happy-now/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Culture in America and everywhere else comes from the suffering, from those who don't want the old ways. They want to bring in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/culture-in-america-and-everywhere-else-comes-from-the-suffering-from/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I try to use my voice. I know that celebrity is valuable, and people do listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-try-to-use-my-voice-i-know-that-celebrity-is-valuable-and-people-do/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [They're lacking culture in Hollywood. That gives me a big up, right? I know something about pop culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/they-re-lacking-culture-in-hollywood-that-gives-me-a-big-up-right-i/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Meditation helps everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/meditation-helps-everything/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [If you talk about the prison-industrial complex, I've fought against the prison-industrial complex when I called for a repeal of the Rockefeller drug laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-talk-about-the-prison-industrial-complex-i-ve-fought-against/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) [Explore all 335 Russell Simmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. Civil disobedience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/the-world-and-america-has-been-defined-by-people-who-haven-t/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [I do not believe that defending traditional marriage between one man and one woman excludes anybody or usurps anybody's civil rights and denies anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-autry/i-do-not-believe-that-defending-traditional-marriage-between-one-man/) [Alan Autry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-autry/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) [Browse all 1,552 Civil rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think people instinctively know that their job is to give service and that they are part of a community. It had a great impact on me when my father walked the picket lines and I walked with him during the civil rights movement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Simmons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-their-job-is-to-give-service/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civil rights" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-their-job-is-to-give-service/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/russell-simmons-900_civil-rights_i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-t_2399863.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think people instinctively know that their job is to give service and that they are part of a community…” — Russell Simmons", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Russell Simmons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think people instinctively know that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-their-job-is-to-give-service/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-people-instinctively-know-that-their-job-is-to-give-service/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```