--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By highlighting what she learned from…" description: "\"“By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political wisdom that he derived from his background..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg" --- # By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these… ![“By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political wisdom that he derived from his background and experiences that differed from hers—namely, his rural upbringing, experiences riding freight trains, and many years as an autoworker. She was…” quote by Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg) > ““By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political wisdom that he derived from his background and experiences that differed from hers—namely, his rural upbringing, experiences riding freight trains, and many years as an autoworker. She was also asserting the significance of their divergent backgrounds for their relationship. 63 Decades later, after they had made many more such trips over many years, she reinforced this point with a telling description of their trips: “Traveling along the highway, I would have my head in a book, while he was pointing out the cows and sheep, counting the freight cars and trying to figure out what they were carrying based on his knowledge of industry and agriculture in the region.” And this, she said, reflected not just their divergent personal styles but also their differing political styles: “My approach to political questions came more from books, his from experience.” 64 This duality of books and experience may have been exaggerated—theoretical concepts informed Jimmy’s political practice more than the statement would suggest—but it captures the complementary and cumulative nature of their collaboration. Combining their respective approaches to the politics that they engaged together, Grace and Jimmy could learn from each other, influence each other’s thinking, and grow together. This mutual growth came to be a crucial dynamic of their intellectual and political partnership, and this is what Grace was coming to see, and reporting to C. L. R. in their 1957 correspondence, as she weighed the decision to join him in London for several months.”” [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Combining scholarly knowledge with practical experience creates a richer, more balanced political perspective, allowing partners to learn and grow together. **In simple terms:** Books and real‑world experience together enhance political insight. Key Takeaway Blend theory with practice for deeper understanding. Themes political collaboration learning experience theory complementarity Mood analytical collaborative Type academic practical When to use this quote - policy development - academic research - grassroots activism - cross‑cultural exchange Key Concepts cognitive diversity knowledge integration dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What strengths does your partner bring that differ from yours? - How can you ensure both theory and practice inform your decisions? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on one source can bias conclusions; balance is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Political wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-wisdom/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [I think there is a scientific approach to it and there is a political approach to it and an economical approach to it. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronika-varekova/i-think-there-is-a-scientific-approach-to-it-and-there-is-a-political/) [Veronika Varekova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronika-varekova/) > [MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/multitude-n-a-crowd-the-source-of-political-wisdom-and-virtue-in-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The study of History is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) Jean Bodin > [Will not perhaps the temporal power of Islam return and with it the menace of an armed Mohammedan world, which will shake off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/will-not-perhaps-the-temporal-power-of-islam-return-and-with-it-the/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [“Justice, humanity, or political wisdom, are qualities they are too little acquainted with in themselves, to appreciate them in others. Valor will acquire their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/justice-humanity-or-political-wisdom-are-qualities-they-are-too/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [I believe we are going to have to prepare ourselves for the difficult and patient task of outgrowing rigid and intransigent nationalism, and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-believe-we-are-going-to-have-to-prepare-ourselves-for-the-difficult/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Man, says Protagoras, now has the wisdom necessary for life ... but he does not have political wisdom. At this point, people are living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ludwig-landsberg/man-says-protagoras-now-has-the-wisdom-necessary-for-life-but-he-does/) Paul Ludwig Landsberg > [It is my earnest hope that all parties across the political spectrum will bear Hong Kong's long-term interests in mind, apply their political wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/it-is-my-earnest-hope-that-all-parties-across-the-political-spectrum/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/neither-an-enlightened-philosophy-nor-all-the-political-wisdom-of/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-heart-trembles-when-i-reflect-that-god-is-just/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If the first year of the Trump administration has made anything clear, it's that experience, knowledge, education and political wisdom matter tremendously. Governing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton-williams/if-the-first-year-of-the-trump-administration-has-made-anything-clear/) [Thomas Chatterton Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton-williams/) > [The beginning of political wisdom is the realization that despite everything you’ve always been taught, the government is not really on your side; indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/the-beginning-of-political-wisdom-is-the-realization-that-despite/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [In America we're seeing the emergence of Donald Trump, who's the anti-establishment candidate, if you will, who's bucking all the conventional political wisdom on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-bernardi/in-america-we-re-seeing-the-emergence-of-donald-trump-who-s-the-anti/) [Cory Bernardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-bernardi/) > [The study of history is the beginning of political wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-political-wisdom/) Jean Bodin ## More by Stephen M. Ward > [“Grace deeply identified with Mead’s view that ideas evolve historically. “Unlike the average American teacher of philosophy of his day,” she wrote, Mead “urged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/grace-deeply-identified-with-mead-s-view-that-ideas-evolve/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“Initially, she responded by turning inward, pondering questions about the meaning of life and her place in the world. This led her to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/initially-she-responded-by-turning-inward-pondering-questions-about/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“In “Detroit Is Dynamite,” an August 1942 Life magazine article, Louis Martin and Ted Poston reported that 98.7 percent of all dwelling units in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/in-detroit-is-dynamite-an-august-1942-life-magazine-article-louis/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“Jimmy and Grace returned to Detroit in late August, in time to participate in the final work to relaunch Correspondence. On September 21–22 the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/jimmy-and-grace-returned-to-detroit-in-late-august-in-time-to/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“Thirteen million Negroes in America have never known three of the “Four Freedoms” which America is supposedly spreading to the rest of the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/thirteen-million-negroes-in-america-have-never-known-three-of-the/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“What are you complaining about? If they don’t want you over here, why don’t you go over on Hastings Street and get yourself something?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/what-are-you-complaining-about-if-they-don-t-want-you-over-here-why/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“Jimmy likely wrote all three editorials, and one, titled “Who Is for Law and Order?” carried his byline. He argued that the spectacle, seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/jimmy-likely-wrote-all-three-editorials-and-one-titled-who-is-for-law/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“She told him the origins of the “buck dance,” when “white people would come up and say ‘N\_\_\_\_r, dance’, and then start shooting around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/she-told-him-the-origins-of-the-buck-dance-when-white-people-would/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“As a Chinese American growing up in a largely white world during the 1920s and 1930s, a sense of social marginalization marked her formative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/as-a-chinese-american-growing-up-in-a-largely-white-world-during-the/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“Grace Lee Boggs was both product and producer of an improbable history. “I grew up in New York as a first generation Chinese American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/grace-lee-boggs-was-both-product-and-producer-of-an-improbable/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“As an Asian American woman within black radical circles, Grace surely was anomalous, but this raised no significant concerns or barriers to her participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/as-an-asian-american-woman-within-black-radical-circles-grace-surely/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“Under Weiss’s direction, Grace began to delve deeply into writings and ideas that would shape the rest of her life. To begin with, Weiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/under-weiss-s-direction-grace-began-to-delve-deeply-into-writings-and/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“They listened to a series of speeches by civil rights luminaries, capped off by a rousing, crowd-pleasing address by Martin Luther King. While the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/they-listened-to-a-series-of-speeches-by-civil-rights-luminaries/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [“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/) > [“Grace regarded her participation in the March on Washington Movement (MOWM) in Chicago as “the turning point in my life” because, as she told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/grace-regarded-her-participation-in-the-march-on-washington-movement/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) [Explore all 21 Stephen M. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) ## More Political wisdom quotes > [In America we're seeing the emergence of Donald Trump, who's the anti-establishment candidate, if you will, who's bucking all the conventional political wisdom on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-bernardi/in-america-we-re-seeing-the-emergence-of-donald-trump-who-s-the-anti/) [Cory Bernardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-bernardi/) > [It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [The beginning of political wisdom is the realization that despite everything you’ve always been taught, the government is not really on your side; indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/the-beginning-of-political-wisdom-is-the-realization-that-despite/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [If the first year of the Trump administration has made anything clear, it's that experience, knowledge, education and political wisdom matter tremendously. Governing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton-williams/if-the-first-year-of-the-trump-administration-has-made-anything-clear/) [Thomas Chatterton Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton-williams/) > [My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-heart-trembles-when-i-reflect-that-god-is-just/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/neither-an-enlightened-philosophy-nor-all-the-political-wisdom-of/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [It is my earnest hope that all parties across the political spectrum will bear Hong Kong's long-term interests in mind, apply their political wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/it-is-my-earnest-hope-that-all-parties-across-the-political-spectrum/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [Man, says Protagoras, now has the wisdom necessary for life ... but he does not have political wisdom. At this point, people are living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ludwig-landsberg/man-says-protagoras-now-has-the-wisdom-necessary-for-life-but-he-does/) Paul Ludwig Landsberg > [I believe we are going to have to prepare ourselves for the difficult and patient task of outgrowing rigid and intransigent nationalism, and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-believe-we-are-going-to-have-to-prepare-ourselves-for-the-difficult/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Justice, humanity, or political wisdom, are qualities they are too little acquainted with in themselves, to appreciate them in others. Valor will acquire their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/justice-humanity-or-political-wisdom-are-qualities-they-are-too/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Will not perhaps the temporal power of Islam return and with it the menace of an armed Mohammedan world, which will shake off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/will-not-perhaps-the-temporal-power-of-islam-return-and-with-it-the/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [The study of History is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) Jean Bodin > [MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/multitude-n-a-crowd-the-source-of-political-wisdom-and-virtue-in-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The study of history is the beginning of political wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-political-wisdom/) Jean Bodin > [It would seem, then, to be the part of political wisdom to found government on property; and to establish such distribution of property, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/it-would-seem-then-to-be-the-part-of-political-wisdom-to-found/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) [Browse all 16 Political wisdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-wisdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political wisdom that he derived from his background and experiences that differed from hers—namely, his rural upbringing, experiences riding freight trains, and many years as an autoworker. She was also asserting the significance of their divergent backgrounds for their relationship. 63 Decades later, after they had made many more such trips over many years, she reinforced this point with a telling description of their trips: “Traveling along the highway, I would have my head in a book, while he was pointing out the cows and sheep, counting the freight cars and trying to figure out what they were carrying based on his knowledge of industry and agriculture in the region.” And this, she said, reflected not just their divergent personal styles but also their differing political styles: “My approach to political questions came more from books, his from experience.” 64 This duality of books and experience may have been exaggerated—theoretical concepts informed Jimmy’s political practice more than the statement would suggest—but it captures the complementary and cumulative nature of their collaboration. Combining their respective approaches to the politics that they engaged together, Grace and Jimmy could learn from each other, influence each other’s thinking, and grow together. This mutual growth came to be a crucial dynamic of their intellectual and political partnership, and this is what Grace was coming to see, and reporting to C. L. R. in their 1957 correspondence, as she weighed the decision to join him in London for several months.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen M. Ward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-jimmy-on-these-cross-country/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Political wisdom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-jimmy-on-these-cross-country/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/stephen-m-ward-26459_political-wisdom_by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-ji_2663988.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political…” — Stephen M. 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