--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't make progress by standing on…" description: "\"You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.\" — Shirley Chisholm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/shirley-chisholm-5073_complaining_you-don-t-make-progress-by-standing-on-t_2540628.png" --- # You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines… ![“You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” quote by Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/shirley-chisholm-5073_complaining_you-don-t-make-progress-by-standing-on-t_2540628.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/shirley-chisholm-5073_complaining_you-don-t-make-progress-by-standing-on-t_2540628.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e5/shirley-chisholm-5073_complaining_you-don-t-make-progress-by-standing-on-t_2540628.png) > “You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress requires active effort, not passive complaint; implementing ideas drives change. **In simple terms:** Act, don’t just complain. Key Takeaway Take action on ideas. Themes action progress activism Mood determined motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - political campaigns - community projects - personal goals - team meetings Key Concepts implementation initiative agency Questions to Reflect On - What idea have you been hesitating to act on? - How can you turn criticism into constructive steps? A Different Perspective Ideas without execution remain fantasies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaining/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Make Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-progress/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Implementing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-implementing-1429792/) [Sidelines Whimpering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidelines-whimpering-1429793/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Whimpering Complaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whimpering-complaining-1429794/) ## Related quotes > [We make progress in society only if we stop cursing and complaining about its shortcomings and have the courage to do something about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-make-progress-in-society-only-if-we-stop-cursing-and-complaining/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Do you want to make progress? If so, then take each problem not as a challenging rival, but as an encouraging friend of yours,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/do-you-want-to-make-progress-if-so-then-take-each-problem-not-as-a/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [When we make progress quickly, it feeds our emotions. Then, when there's a period of waiting or we hit a plateau, we find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/when-we-make-progress-quickly-it-feeds-our-emotions-then-when-there-s/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [We must make progress slowly so as to preserve the progress we have already made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/we-must-make-progress-slowly-so-as-to-preserve-the-progress-we-have/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [It's hard to make progress with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/it-s-hard-to-make-progress-with-grief/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [You never stop trying to make progress as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/you-never-stop-trying-to-make-progress-as-a-musician/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [If you're going to worry about what people say, you're never going to make any progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murray/if-you-re-going-to-worry-about-what-people-say-you-re-never-going-to/) [Joseph Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murray/) > [Although you perform many works, if you do not deny your will and submit yourself, losing all solicitude about yourself and your affairs, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-john-of-the-cross/although-you-perform-many-works-if-you-do-not-deny-your-will-and/) [St John Of The Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-john-of-the-cross/) > [Those who are not dissatisfied will never make any progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigeo-shingo/those-who-are-not-dissatisfied-will-never-make-any-progress/) [Shigeo Shingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shigeo-shingo/) > [“If you do not chase in directly toward the place where your opponents have gathered, you will not make progress. And, if you start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/if-you-do-not-chase-in-directly-toward-the-place-where-your-opponents/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign. To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-way-to-become-enthusiastic-is-to-look-for-the-plus-sign-to-make/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [To make progress you must actually get started. The key is to take a step today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/to-make-progress-you-must-actually-get-started-the-key-is-to-take-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When we make progress and get better at something, it is inherently motivating. In order for people to make progress, they have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/when-we-make-progress-and-get-better-at-something-it-is-inherently/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“Not trying is, of course, the ultimate failure, for it means you can never make progress toward your goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-niven/not-trying-is-of-course-the-ultimate-failure-for-it-means-you-can/) [David Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-niven/) > [It doesn't matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/it-doesn-t-matter-which-side-of-the-fence-you-get-off-on-sometimes/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Shirley Chisholm > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/tremendous-amounts-of-talent-are-lost-to-our-society-just-because/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-not-heroin-or-cocaine-that-makes-one-an-addict-it-is-the-need/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I love America not for what she is, but for what she can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-love-america-not-for-what-she-is-but-for-what-she-can-become/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am and always will be a catalyst for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-and-always-will-be-a-catalyst-for-change/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The liberals in the House strongly resemble liberals I have known through the last two decades in the civil rights conflict. When it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-liberals-in-the-house-strongly-resemble-liberals-i-have-known/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am not antiwhite, because I understand that white people, like black ones, are victims of a racist society. They are products of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-antiwhite-because-i-understand-that-white-people-like-black/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It's a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-emotional-sexual-and-psychological-stereotyping-of-females-begins/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I had met far more discrimination because I am a woman than because I am black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-had-met-far-more-discrimination-because-i-am-a-woman-than-because-i/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Some fine men are in Congress, too few, trying to do a responsible job. But they are surrounded and almost neutralized by a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/some-fine-men-are-in-congress-too-few-trying-to-do-a-responsible-job/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“Following along the path of her role models, Shirley knew that if she waited for permission, she’d never receive her turn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/following-along-the-path-of-her-role-models-shirley-knew-that-if-she/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I ran because somebody had to do it first. In this country, everybody is supposed to be able to run for president, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-ran-because-somebody-had-to-do-it-first-in-this-country-everybody/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“The most tragic error into which older people can fall is one that is common among educators and politicians. It is to use youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-most-tragic-error-into-which-older-people-can-fall-is-one-that-is/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I have never cared too much what people say. What I am interested in is what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-have-never-cared-too-much-what-people-say-what-i-am-interested-in/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Explore all 103 Shirley Chisholm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## More Complaining quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Once the war began, the government could do anything 'necessary' to win it; so it was with the 'final solution of the Jewish problem,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-mayer/once-the-war-began-the-government-could-do-anything-necessary-to-win/) [Milton Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-mayer/) > [I'll tell you that the dog whistle politics is badly missing the mark. Because, you know, as I've been speaking about it, sure, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naheed-nenshi/i-ll-tell-you-that-the-dog-whistle-politics-is-badly-missing-the-mark/) [Naheed Nenshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naheed-nenshi/) [Browse all 1,994 Complaining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. 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