--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I reserve my greatest admiration for…" description: "\"I reserve my greatest admiration for those who continue to struggle to embrace the whole impossible tangle of snakes that is our society; those who fig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png" --- # I reserve my greatest admiration for those who continue to… ![“I reserve my greatest admiration for those who continue to struggle to embrace the whole impossible tangle of snakes that is our society; those who fight to identify and strengthen human connections, and defeat polarizing forces that strain to drive us apart.” quote by Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png) > “I reserve my greatest admiration for those who continue to struggle to embrace the whole impossible tangle of snakes that is our society; those who fight to identify and strengthen human connections, and defeat polarizing forces that strain to drive us apart.” [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It praises those who confront society’s complex, divisive challenges by building human bonds and resisting polarization. **In simple terms:** Admire people who unite others against division. Key Takeaway Support community building and bridge divides. Themes community polarization human connections social cohesion Mood hopeful determined inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political activism - neighborhood projects - online forums - team sports - conflict resolution Key Concepts sociology psychology activism Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster genuine connection in a polarized environment? - What obstacles hinder collective solidarity? A Different Perspective Such efforts can be thwarted by entrenched interests and apathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Admiration Continue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration-continue-1861378/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Greatest Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-admiration-860156/) [Human connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-connection/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Polarizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polarizing/) [Reserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserves/) [Snakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snakes/) [Snakes Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snakes-society-1861380/) [Strain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strain/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-embrace-1861379/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [Americans willing to put themselves forward and serve their state or country in public office deserve our greatest admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bessent/americans-willing-to-put-themselves-forward-and-serve-their-state-or/) [Scott Bessent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bessent/) > [Your American admiral said that he held me in the highest esteem, and thought that I conducted my defense perfectly. He said through his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-donitz/your-american-admiral-said-that-he-held-me-in-the-highest-esteem-and/) [Karl Donitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-donitz/) > [My dad had the greatest admiration for MacArthur when they were working together in Washington before the Philippines. And Dad used to talk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eisenhower/my-dad-had-the-greatest-admiration-for-macarthur-when-they-were/) [John Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eisenhower/) > [Because of the structure of the contemporary American party system, every president is polarizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-of-the-structure-of-the-contemporary-american-party-system/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We've been polarizing for different reasons. For one thing, my voice is very polarizing. It sits in this place that either appeals to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davey-havok/we-ve-been-polarizing-for-different-reasons-for-one-thing-my-voice-is/) [Davey Havok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davey-havok/) > [I've always felt that if something is polarizing, that's usually the stuff I like the most. If something is taking a chance and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-samberg/i-ve-always-felt-that-if-something-is-polarizing-that-s-usually-the/) [Andy Samberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-samberg/) > [I feel like people have more in common than the news reports. People getting along doesn't sell very well in the news. I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-feel-like-people-have-more-in-common-than-the-news-reports-people/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [For Donald Trump, during his candidacy, he became a polarizing candidate, which included, along the way, insulting a lot of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/for-donald-trump-during-his-candidacy-he-became-a-polarizing/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I have no idea why anyone likes me! I am very polarizing. It's either absolutely love or absolutely can't-be-around-for-more-than-three-seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/i-have-no-idea-why-anyone-likes-me-i-am-very-polarizing-it-s-either/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) > [I love polarizing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gad/i-love-polarizing-people/) [Josh Gad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gad/) > [Comedy illuminates. And it unifies people, it's not as polarizing as shows with specific political agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-rainbow/comedy-illuminates-and-it-unifies-people-it-s-not-as-polarizing-as/) [Randy Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-rainbow/) > [All State education is a sort of dynamo machine for polarizing the popular mind; for turning and holding its lines of force in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/all-state-education-is-a-sort-of-dynamo-machine-for-polarizing-the/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [The world is polarizing over religion. It is getting both more religious and less religious at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-world-is-polarizing-over-religion-it-is-getting-both-more/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I can usually play polarizing characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ransone/i-can-usually-play-polarizing-characters/) [James Ransone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ransone/) > [“But for a younger generation of conservative operatives who would soon rise to power... They were true believers who meant what they said, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/but-for-a-younger-generation-of-conservative-operatives-who-would/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Shana Alexander > [We are on a sexual binge in this country. ... One consequence of this binge is that while people now get into bed more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/we-are-on-a-sexual-binge-in-this-country-one-consequence-of-this/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The real trouble with the doctor image in America is that it has been grayed by the image of the doctor-as-businessman, the doctor-as-bureaucrat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-real-trouble-with-the-doctor-image-in-america-is-that-it-has-been/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Roughly speaking, the President of the United States knows what his job is. Constitution and custom spell it out, for him as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/roughly-speaking-the-president-of-the-united-states-knows-what-his/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Good drama should sandpaper the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/good-drama-should-sandpaper-the-mind/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The mark of a true crush... is that you fall in love first and grope for reasons afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-mark-of-a-true-crush-is-that-you-fall-in-love-first-and-grope-for/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The sad truth is that excellence makes people nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-sad-truth-is-that-excellence-makes-people-nervous/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The majority of Utah's citizens do not merely approve the death penalty, they demand it - the state religion demands it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-majority-of-utah-s-citizens-do-not-merely-approve-the-death/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [In Utah, the American melting pot is unstirred. Three out of four people are Mormons, and they are all here in this bleakly beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/in-utah-the-american-melting-pot-is-unstirred-three-out-of-four/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Ours is the first society in history in which parents expect to learn from their children, rather than the other way around. Such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/ours-is-the-first-society-in-history-in-which-parents-expect-to-learn/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The notion that the great artist requires a great patron has been around since the Pharaohs. That the born patron also needs an artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-notion-that-the-great-artist-requires-a-great-patron-has-been/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The law changes and flows like water, and . . . the stream of women's rights law has become a sudden rushing torrent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-law-changes-and-flows-like-water-and-the-stream-of-women-s-rights/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [The paradox of Reality is that no image is as compelling as the one which exists only in the mind's eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-paradox-of-reality-is-that-no-image-is-as-compelling-as-the-one/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Mind and body are not to be taken lightly. Their connection is intimate and mysterious, and better mapped by poets than pornographers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/mind-and-body-are-not-to-be-taken-lightly-their-connection-is/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Writing about your family is the hardest thing, unless you had the perfect happy family life, which very few of us have had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/writing-about-your-family-is-the-hardest-thing-unless-you-had-the/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) > [Between the two poles of whole-truth and half-truth is slung the chancy hammock in which we all rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/between-the-two-poles-of-whole-truth-and-half-truth-is-slung-the/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) [Explore all 59 Shana Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) ## More Admiration quotes > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) > [“There have been those among us who have been so dazzled by the might and technological wizardy of Europe that they have been rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahdaf-soueif/there-have-been-those-among-us-who-have-been-so-dazzled-by-the-might/) [Ahdaf Soueif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahdaf-soueif/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“A warm, trustworthy person who is also strong elicits admiration, but only after you’ve established trust does your strength become a gift rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/a-warm-trustworthy-person-who-is-also-strong-elicits-admiration-but/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [“Let me make two remarks. First I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I’m quite busy with that—thank you very much. And I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/let-me-make-two-remarks-first-i-concentrate-on-the-task-ahead-for/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/) [Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/) > [Admittedly great though these reasons be, they are not the principal grounds, that is, those which may rightfully claim for themselves the privilege of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/admittedly-great-though-these-reasons-be-they-are-not-the-principal/) [Giovanni Pico della Mirandola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/) > [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) [Browse all 1,179 Admiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I reserve my greatest admiration for those who continue to struggle to embrace the whole impossible tangle of snakes that is our society; those who fight to identify and strengthen human connections, and defeat polarizing forces that strain to drive us apart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shana Alexander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-those-who-continue-to-struggle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-those-who-continue-to-struggle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/shana-alexander-11547_admiration_i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-tho_1780860.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I reserve my greatest admiration for those who continue to struggle to embrace the whole impossible tangle…” — Shana Alexander", "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": "Shana Alexander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I reserve my greatest admiration for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-those-who-continue-to-struggle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/i-reserve-my-greatest-admiration-for-those-who-continue-to-struggle/#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 } } ] } ```