--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're seeking progress, all…" description: "\"If you're seeking progress, all presidents are the opposition. You're just fighting different kinds of battles -\" — Sam Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/sam-smith-2934_battle_if-you-re-seeking-progress-all-president_1551876.jpg" --- # If you're seeking progress, all presidents are the… ![“If you're seeking progress, all presidents are the opposition. You're just fighting different kinds of battles -” quote by Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/sam-smith-2934_battle_if-you-re-seeking-progress-all-president_1551876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/sam-smith-2934_battle_if-you-re-seeking-progress-all-president_1551876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/sam-smith-2934_battle_if-you-re-seeking-progress-all-president_1551876.jpg) > “If you're seeking progress, all presidents are the opposition. You're just fighting different kinds of battles -” [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress is hindered by entrenched power; each leader represents a different obstacle to change. **In simple terms:** Leaders often block progress. Key Takeaway Challenge authority for change. Themes politics progress conflict Mood determined critical Type political motivational When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - community organizing Key Concepts power structures opposition social change Questions to Reflect On - Which leaders have helped progress? - How can you navigate opposition? A Different Perspective Not all leaders are obstacles; some enable progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Opposition is just proof that you're close to a major breakthrough keepgoing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run-2/opposition-is-just-proof-that-you-re-close-to-a-major-breakthrough/) [Rev Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run-2/) > [When I worked in the White House for President Carter, we tried to do comprehensive tax reform and we made some progress, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rubenstein/when-i-worked-in-the-white-house-for-president-carter-we-tried-to-do/) [David Rubenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rubenstein/) > [I felt that if a man's proposals met with approval, it should encourage him; if they met with opposition, it should make him fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-felt-that-if-a-man-s-proposals-met-with-approval-it-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, opposition is just another opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-me-opposition-is-just-another-opposition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have no parties standing in opposition to each other, just as we have no class of capitalists and a class of workers exploited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/we-have-no-parties-standing-in-opposition-to-each-other-just-as-we/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [I'm someone who loses 80 to 90 percent of the time. Even when I lost, I put my body on the line and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/i-m-someone-who-loses-80-to-90-percent-of-the-time-even-when-i-lost-i/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [I came from doing Wushu and other martial arts, and then I got into movies, and I had to learn that as well -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wu/i-came-from-doing-wushu-and-other-martial-arts-and-then-i-got-into/) [Daniel Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wu/) > [If you look back at my fights, if you pick three or four fights in a row, it's possible if you watch my style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/if-you-look-back-at-my-fights-if-you-pick-three-or-four-fights-in-a/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [And now that you are out? How does the world seem to you?" he says. "Mostly the same," I say. "People are just divided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-now-that-you-are-out-how-does-the-world-seem-to-you-he-says/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Every action project you take, whether it be a movie or TV series, is always different and a lot of people don't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-q/every-action-project-you-take-whether-it-be-a-movie-or-tv-series-is/) [Maggie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-q/) > [Fighting, to me, has always been something different than what everybody's else opinion is. I've never believed what everybody else has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-penn/fighting-to-me-has-always-been-something-different-than-what/) [B. J. Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-penn/) > [The interesting thing about film fighting is that it's very different to the kind of fighting we do in pro wrestling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-barrett/the-interesting-thing-about-film-fighting-is-that-it-s-very-different/) [Wade Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-barrett/) > [I love fighting different styles and overcoming obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-love-fighting-different-styles-and-overcoming-obstacles/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [“Is that your reason for fighting?! We're different!!! We fight for the sake of our injured friends!!! No matter if our opponents are humans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-mashima/is-that-your-reason-for-fighting-we-re-different-we-fight-for-the/) [Hiro Mashima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-mashima/) > [I don't need MMA, but I love fighting. Those are very different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-don-t-need-mma-but-i-love-fighting-those-are-very-different-things/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) ## More by Sam Smith > [I'm really scared of flying. Like, really, really, really scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-m-really-scared-of-flying-like-really-really-really-scared/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I had a role in developing the doctrine From the Sea, which was later modified to Forward From the Sea. But the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-had-a-role-in-developing-the-doctrine-from-the-sea-which-was-later/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. So, thank you guys...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [My cross earrings are a mini statement; I wear them every day! My whole dream is to be iconic, and the way you dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/my-cross-earrings-are-a-mini-statement-i-wear-them-every-day-my-whole/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I'll be excited when I get my heart broken properly for the first time. I'll be like, 'Thank God I've experienced something. Someone wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-ll-be-excited-when-i-get-my-heart-broken-properly-for-the-first/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [As a kid, I collected 'Vogue' every month for three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/as-a-kid-i-collected-vogue-every-month-for-three-years/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [Polls are the corporate media's standardized tests to determine how well we have learned what it has taught us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/polls-are-the-corporate-media-s-standardized-tests-to-determine-how/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I hate it when guys wear really tight t-shirts. It's just so horrible, especially when you can see their bellies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-hate-it-when-guys-wear-really-tight-t-shirts-it-s-just-so-horrible/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-who-i-am-would-to-god-i-could/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [Kill me if you will, I am not afraid to die; and I have endured so much oppression that I am weary of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/kill-me-if-you-will-i-am-not-afraid-to-die-and-i-have-endured-so-much/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I'm more comfortable performing in front of 50,000 people than five people - it's easier. When there's that many people, I feel like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-m-more-comfortable-performing-in-front-of-50-000-people-than-five/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow & people started to listen so thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to-2/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [When I'm performing, I'm not even thinking about the song. I'm thinking about the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/when-i-m-performing-i-m-not-even-thinking-about-the-song-i-m-thinking/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I used to get very angry as I was getting older, because my voice was breaking. So I've trained my voice so religiously through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-used-to-get-very-angry-as-i-was-getting-older-because-my-voice-was/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It's my job to have ups and downs because it makes good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-s-my-job-to-have-ups-and-downs-because-it-makes-good-music/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) [Explore all 145 Sam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're seeking progress, all presidents are the opposition. 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