--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's very few things you can do as an…" description: "\"There's very few things you can do as an individual because the problems are systemic. But if you want to do one thing to stop human beings from ceasin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/simon-amstell-4347_exist_there-s-very-few-things-you-can-do-as-an_904782.png" --- # There's very few things you can do as an individual… ![“There's very few things you can do as an individual because the problems are systemic. But if you want to do one thing to stop human beings from ceasing to exist, then have a chickpea!” quote by Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/simon-amstell-4347_exist_there-s-very-few-things-you-can-do-as-an_904782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/simon-amstell-4347_exist_there-s-very-few-things-you-can-do-as-an_904782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/simon-amstell-4347_exist_there-s-very-few-things-you-can-do-as-an_904782.png) > “There's very few things you can do as an individual because the problems are systemic. But if you want to do one thing to stop human beings from ceasing to exist, then have a chickpea!” [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Systemic issues limit individual impact, yet small personal choices—like eating a chickpea—symbolize resistance and hope. **In simple terms:** Small actions matter despite systemic problems. Key Takeaway Choose symbolic actions, stay hopeful. Themes activism humor hope Mood lighthearted reflective Type humorous philosophical When to use this quote - environmental activism - dietary choices - community projects Key Concepts systemic change personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What personal habit can you adopt for larger impact? - How does humor help cope with systemic issues? A Different Perspective Symbolic acts may feel insufficient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) ## Related quotes > [Vegetarian and frugal it may be, but the chickpea is one of the most versatile ingredients you could keep in your cupboards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/vegetarian-and-frugal-it-may-be-but-the-chickpea-is-one-of-the-most/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [What, after all, are the world's deepest problems? They are what they always have been, the individual's problems—the meaning of life and death, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-after-all-are-the-world-s-deepest-problems-they-are-what-they/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Our society tends to regard as a sickness any mode of thought or behavior that is inconvenient for the system and this is plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-kaczynski/our-society-tends-to-regard-as-a-sickness-any-mode-of-thought-or/) [Theodore Kaczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-kaczynski/) > [We're looking at the singular condition of poverty. All the other individual problems spring from that condition... doesn't matter if it's death, aid, trade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-geldof/we-re-looking-at-the-singular-condition-of-poverty-all-the-other/) [Bob Geldof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-geldof/) > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The thinking needs to shift from being less about the actual things, to being about the individual user.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosain-rahman/the-thinking-needs-to-shift-from-being-less-about-the-actual-things/) [Hosain Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosain-rahman/) > [“...each living creature is said to be alive and to be the same individual-- as for example someone is said to be the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-living-creature-is-said-to-be-alive-and-to-be-the-same/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [That's true of every form of literature - each writer brings new things to it because each of us is an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-brown/that-s-true-of-every-form-of-literature-each-writer-brings-new-things/) [Erica Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-brown/) > [There are things that you can do on an individual level, even as you continue to fight oppression systemically, that make things a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/there-are-things-that-you-can-do-on-an-individual-level-even-as-you/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I do consider the individual things individual, in a way because that is what I do I guess, try to find out what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/i-do-consider-the-individual-things-individual-in-a-way-because-that/) [Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/) > [Racism may be as systemic as it always was. It is the great problem of America. It's the one stumbling block that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-guillaume/racism-may-be-as-systemic-as-it-always-was-it-is-the-great-problem-of/) [Robert Guillaume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-guillaume/) > [“What is the flow and impact of disinformation? How is the disinformation spreading and what are its effects?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/what-is-the-flow-and-impact-of-disinformation-how-is-the/) [Roger spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [“Systemic disruption requires us to accept that there may be no measurable data to fully substantiate our understanding of those disruptions. Imaging and exploring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/systemic-disruption-requires-us-to-accept-that-there-may-be-no/) [Roger Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [There is a systemic problem in this country, where schools are often forcing parents to turn to Ritalin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/there-is-a-systemic-problem-in-this-country-where-schools-are-often/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [“But if the system is the problem, the truth is that there will not be satisfactory answers in the here and now for lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/but-if-the-system-is-the-problem-the-truth-is-that-there-will-not-be/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) ## More by Simon Amstell > [I don't see the point of doing comedy unless it comes from pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-don-t-see-the-point-of-doing-comedy-unless-it-comes-from-pain/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [My mum makes me laugh a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/my-mum-makes-me-laugh-a-lot/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I quite like being cheeky and naughty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-quite-like-being-cheeky-and-naughty/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [The first time I got into therapy was when I was 29 - it's always when I'm about to hit a number. There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/the-first-time-i-got-into-therapy-was-when-i-was-29-it-s-always-when/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I am more interested in finding peace than upsetting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-am-more-interested-in-finding-peace-than-upsetting-anyone/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [If you are somebody who is going to at some point be revealed as not like everyone else, then to be in an insular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/if-you-are-somebody-who-is-going-to-at-some-point-be-revealed-as-not/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I got my first job in television when I was 18, on the kids' cable channel Nickelodeon, introducing the 'Rugrats' and other programs. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-got-my-first-job-in-television-when-i-was-18-on-the-kids-cable/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [Everything I try to do is about slaying that dragon of shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/everything-i-try-to-do-is-about-slaying-that-dragon-of-shame/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [If I'd have been really good at dancing as a kid, if I'd have achieved more than my certificate in preparatory tap, then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/if-i-d-have-been-really-good-at-dancing-as-a-kid-if-i-d-have-achieved/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I don't feel broken anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-don-t-feel-broken-anymore/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [If you are the sort of comedian who's interested in sort of the mundane, then there's something in that and then it's wonderful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/if-you-are-the-sort-of-comedian-who-s-interested-in-sort-of-the/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I watched a film called 'Earthlings' years ago and it helped to upset me into veganism, so I thought what I could do was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-watched-a-film-called-earthlings-years-ago-and-it-helped-to-upset/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [You can't think your way to being in love, or able to be loved. However, intellect is also useful for things like understanding books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/you-can-t-think-your-way-to-being-in-love-or-able-to-be-loved-however/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [As a teenager, I found a lot of courage through people on the television being funny or subversive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/as-a-teenager-i-found-a-lot-of-courage-through-people-on-the/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) [Explore all 112 Simon Amstell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) ## More Exist quotes > [A vacuum can only exist, I imagine, by the things which enclose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/a-vacuum-can-only-exist-i-imagine-by-the-things-which-enclose-it/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [I don't believe in moral victories. I don't think in pro ball they exist, and they shouldn't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-witten/i-don-t-believe-in-moral-victories-i-don-t-think-in-pro-ball-they/) [Jason Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-witten/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [“Must a people disappear for us to know they exist? Mano Dayak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-dayak/must-a-people-disappear-for-us-to-know-they-exist-mano-dayak/) Mano Dayak > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [“And then again, maybe people and things are the same as emotions: Even when you can't see them or feel them or be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-henriquez/and-then-again-maybe-people-and-things-are-the-same-as-emotions-even/) [Cristina Henriquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-henriquez/) > [When you rely on incentives, you undermine virtues. Then when you discover that you actually need people who want to do the right thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schwartz/when-you-rely-on-incentives-you-undermine-virtues-then-when-you/) [Barry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schwartz/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [“Human race had never planned to show up in this universe. I wonder whether current human efforts are relevant to its sustainability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/human-race-had-never-planned-to-show-up-in-this-universe-i-wonder/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Happiness, I do not know where to turn to discover you on earth, in the air or the sky; yet I know you exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia-de-castro/happiness-i-do-not-know-where-to-turn-to-discover-you-on-earth-in-the/) [Rosalia de Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia-de-castro/) > [Is when you can not exist without your loves smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff/is-when-you-can-not-exist-without-your-loves-smile/) Jeff > [Liberty does not exist where rights are on one side and power on the other. To be liberty, rights must be armed with vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/liberty-does-not-exist-where-rights-are-on-one-side-and-power-on-the/) [Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/) Browse all 2,297 Exist quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's very few things you can do as an individual because the problems are systemic. 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