--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thirteenth rule of radical tactics…" description: "\"The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.\" — Saul Alinsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png" --- # The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target… ![“The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” quote by Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png) > “The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective political or social influence involves identifying a specific opponent, isolating them, making the conflict personal, and creating a stark division to mobilize support. **In simple terms:** Influence tactics: target, isolate, personalize, polarize. Key Takeaway Use focused strategies to rally allies. Themes politics activism strategy Mood assertive critical strategic Type advice political When to use this quote - campaign planning - community organizing - media messaging - negotiation - public protests Key Concepts Power dynamics social engineering conflict escalation Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply these tactics ethically? - When does polarization become counterproductive? A Different Perspective May alienate moderate voices and increase hostility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community organizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-organizing/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Rules for radicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-for-radicals/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Tactics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tactics/) ## Related quotes > [Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/pick-the-target-freeze-it-personalize-it-and-polarize-it-cut-off-the/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-price-of-a-successful-attack-is-a-constructive-alternative/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [“Obama’s formative background is the left-wing fever swamp of Chicago “community organizing,” a gussied-up term for systematic rabble-rousing that has now become acceptable enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/obama-s-formative-background-is-the-left-wing-fever-swamp-of-chicago/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [It is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul/it-is-necessary-to-begin-where-the-world-is-if-we-are-going-to-change/) [Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul/) > [Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pick-the-target-freeze-it-personalize-it-and-polarize-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One’s concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one’s personal interest in the issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/one-s-concern-with-the-ethics-of-means-and-ends-varies-inversely-with/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The organizers first job is to create the issues or problems, and organizations must be based on many issues. The organizer must first rub…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-organizers-first-job-is-to-create-the-issues-or-problems-and/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [In this world laws are written for the lofty aim of "the common good" and then acted out in life on the basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/in-this-world-laws-are-written-for-the-lofty-aim-of-the-common-good/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [An organizer working in and for an open society is in an ideological dilemma to begin with, he does not have a fixed truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/an-organizer-working-in-and-for-an-open-society-is-in-an-ideological/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The preferred world can be seen any evening on television in the succession of programs where the good always wins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-preferred-world-can-be-seen-any-evening-on-television-in-the/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Life is there ahead of you and either one tests oneself in its challenges or huddles in the valleys of a dreamless day-to-day existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/life-is-there-ahead-of-you-and-either-one-tests-oneself-in-its/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [A good tactic is one that your people enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/a-good-tactic-is-one-that-your-people-enjoy/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angels are on one side and all the devils on the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/one-acts-decisively-only-in-the-conviction-that-all-the-angels-are-on/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-standards-of-judgment-must-be-rooted-in-the-whys-and-wherefores/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The very first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-very-first-radical-known-to-man-who-rebelled-against-the/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) ## More by Saul Alinsky > [The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-threat-is-usually-more-terrifying-than-the-thing-itself/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The very first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-very-first-radical-known-to-man-who-rebelled-against-the/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [I've never joined any organization - not even the ones I've organized myself. I prize my own independence too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/i-ve-never-joined-any-organization-not-even-the-ones-i-ve-organized/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Everybody owned stock in the Capone mob; in a way, he was a public benefactor. I remember one time when he arrived at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/everybody-owned-stock-in-the-capone-mob-in-a-way-he-was-a-public/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [First rule of change is controversy. You can't get away from it for the simple reason all issues are controversial. Change means movement, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/first-rule-of-change-is-controversy-you-can-t-get-away-from-it-for/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Radicals, on the other hand, want to advance from the jungle of laissez-faire capitalism to a world worthy of the name of human civilization.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/radicals-on-the-other-hand-want-to-advance-from-the-jungle-of-laissez/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/pick-the-target-freeze-it-personalize-it-and-polarize-it-cut-off-the/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The first step in community organization is community disorganization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-first-step-in-community-organization-is-community-disorganization/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Power just goes to two poles — to those who've got money, and those who've got people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/power-just-goes-to-two-poles-to-those-who-ve-got-money-and-those-who/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The establishment can accept being screwed, but not being laughed at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-establishment-can-accept-being-screwed-but-not-being-laughed-at/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [To the organizer, compromise is a key and beautiful word. It is always present in the pragmatics of operation... If you start with nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/to-the-organizer-compromise-is-a-key-and-beautiful-word-it-is-always/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/power-is-not-only-what-you-have-but-what-the-enemy-thinks-you-have/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-standards-of-judgment-must-be-rooted-in-the-whys-and-wherefores/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Organized business has assumed that greater profits would be pretty much of a cure-all, and it has to a major extent ignored the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/organized-business-has-assumed-that-greater-profits-would-be-pretty/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angels are on one side and all the devils on the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/one-acts-decisively-only-in-the-conviction-that-all-the-angels-are-on/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) [Explore all 141 Saul Alinsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) ## More Community organizing quotes > [Community organizing is all about building grassroots support. It's about identifying the people around you with whom you can create a common, passionate cause.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/community-organizing-is-all-about-building-grassroots-support-it-s/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Baltimore is a beautiful city. I started doing a lot of community organizing back in 1999 and met so many great people in neighborhoods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/baltimore-is-a-beautiful-city-i-started-doing-a-lot-of-community/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [It is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul/it-is-necessary-to-begin-where-the-world-is-if-we-are-going-to-change/) [Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul/) > [Before running for the Washington State Senate in 2014, I had spent 20 years as an activist. I had always believed that we needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/before-running-for-the-washington-state-senate-in-2014-i-had-spent-20/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [ All the eight years of \[Barack\] Obama when \[George W.\] Bush was asked repeatedly, "I don't do that. I had my time. It's his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/all-the-eight-years-of-barack-obama-when-george-w-bush-was-asked/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Obama’s formative background is the left-wing fever swamp of Chicago “community organizing,” a gussied-up term for systematic rabble-rousing that has now become acceptable enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/obama-s-formative-background-is-the-left-wing-fever-swamp-of-chicago/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [I've done community organizing my whole life and I think to myself, as an organizer, we don't wait for people to come to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarana-burke/i-ve-done-community-organizing-my-whole-life-and-i-think-to-myself-as/) [Tarana Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarana-burke/) > [ Michelle and Barack \[Obama\] epitomize what my father set the stage for - they epitomize global community organizing. I'm a global child, I was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaak-shabazz/michelle-and-barack-obama-epitomize-what-my-father-set-the-stage-for/) [Malaak Shabazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaak-shabazz/) > [Public service and community organizing and movement building is such a part of my DNA that it's really hard to separate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayanna-pressley/public-service-and-community-organizing-and-movement-building-is-such/) [Ayanna Pressley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayanna-pressley/) > [The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-price-of-a-successful-attack-is-a-constructive-alternative/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [The rules in this new 'post-partisan' era are pretty simple: If the Democratic Party wants it, it's 'stimulus.' If the Republican Party opposes it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-rules-in-this-new-post-partisan-era-are-pretty-simple-if-the/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [I learned about community organizing from my parents. As a child, their stories were so instructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-learned-about-community-organizing-from-my-parents-as-a-child-their/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“The big organizing model that can fuel revolutions believes that communities are filled with talented and intelligent people who understand what is broken and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-bond/the-big-organizing-model-that-can-fuel-revolutions-believes-that/) [Becky Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-bond/) > [“public statements condemning segregation, sharply worded telegrams to Washington, and meetings with White House officials—were demonstrably ineffectual. New and more dramatic measures were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/public-statements-condemning-segregation-sharply-worded-telegrams-to/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [ \[Barack\] Obama isn't pointing to anyone, and certainly doesn't like it when others note (correctly) that his influences were the likes of Saul Alinsky,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/barack-obama-isn-t-pointing-to-anyone-and-certainly-doesn-t-like-it/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) [Browse all 23 Community organizing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-organizing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saul Alinsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-pick-the-target-freeze-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Community organizing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-pick-the-target-freeze-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/092/saul-alinsky-3048_community-organizing_the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-p_1302855.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thirteenth rule of radical tactics: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” — Saul Alinsky", "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": "Saul Alinsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thirteenth rule of radical tactics:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-pick-the-target-freeze-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-thirteenth-rule-of-radical-tactics-pick-the-target-freeze-it/#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 } } ] } ```