--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t consider myself an activist, but…" description: "\"I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/tim-cook-1729_activist_i-don-t-consider-myself-an-activist-but_2162444.png" --- # I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how… ![“I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their…” quote by Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/tim-cook-1729_activist_i-don-t-consider-myself-an-activist-but_2162444.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/tim-cook-1729_activist_i-don-t-consider-myself-an-activist-but_2162444.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c7/tim-cook-1729_activist_i-don-t-consider-myself-an-activist-but_2162444.png) > “I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. So if hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy.” [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the trade‑off between personal privacy and the societal benefit of sharing personal stories for marginalized groups **In simple terms:** Sharing personal details can help others feel less alone Key Takeaway Use your platform to support others, even at personal cost Themes privacy activism solidarity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type activist personal narrative When to use this quote - advocacy campaigns - public speaking - online activism Key Concepts social impact identity public disclosure Questions to Reflect On - How much privacy are you willing to sacrifice? - What stories most help others feel seen? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑exposure may deter participation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trade offs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade-offs/) ## Related quotes > [If hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/if-hearing-that-the-ceo-of-apple-is-gay-can-help-someone-struggling/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I am who I am, and I'm focused on that, and being a great CEO of Apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/i-am-who-i-am-and-i-m-focused-on-that-and-being-a-great-ceo-of-apple/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [My outspoken beliefs have been embraced, but I don't consider myself an activist. Maybe people consider me as that, but it's not anything outrageous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burning-spear/my-outspoken-beliefs-have-been-embraced-but-i-don-t-consider-myself/) [Burning Spear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burning-spear/) > [I consider myself an activist, but I'm never a protestor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pool/i-consider-myself-an-activist-but-i-m-never-a-protestor/) [Tim Pool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pool/) > [I consider myself an activist for women like me, who want to be confident and don't want to be judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/i-consider-myself-an-activist-for-women-like-me-who-want-to-be/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [A lot of people thought Steve Jobs was a CEO of Apple but he never was until he came back to Apple in 1997.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-hertzfeld/a-lot-of-people-thought-steve-jobs-was-a-ceo-of-apple-but-he-never/) [Andy Hertzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-hertzfeld/) > [Silicon Valley's involvement with Washington dates from one event, which was John Scully - who was the CEO of Apple - had dinner with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/silicon-valley-s-involvement-with-washington-dates-from-one-event/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [You all know I have terminal cancer—and I have a lot of it. But what you may not know is that stress induces its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mccall/you-all-know-i-have-terminal-cancer-and-i-have-a-lot-of-it-but-what-3/) [Tom McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-mccall/) > [I don't necessarily see myself or consider myself an activist, but I feel like I have a platform, and I'm going to utilize it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-beal/i-don-t-necessarily-see-myself-or-consider-myself-an-activist-but-i/) [Bradley Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-beal/) > [I consider myself an activist who governs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gillum/i-consider-myself-an-activist-who-governs/) [Andrew Gillum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gillum/) > [I am a Doctor, but above all else I consider myself an activist for peace, justice and care for all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patch-adams/i-am-a-doctor-but-above-all-else-i-consider-myself-an-activist-for/) [Patch Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patch-adams/) > [I don't view Apple or myself as an activist. What we do is for some things where we think we have deep knowledge, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/i-don-t-view-apple-or-myself-as-an-activist-what-we-do-is-for-some/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [You have the refugee crisis triggered by Syria. That's got a lot of costs associated with it. Domestically, budgets are incredibly tight because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/you-have-the-refugee-crisis-triggered-by-syria-that-s-got-a-lot-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [There have been trade-offs every day, every month, every year. There's a lot that I missed and I do have regrets in that area.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/there-have-been-trade-offs-every-day-every-month-every-year-there-s-a/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [Every peasant cuisine has incredible ingenious tricks for getting a lot of nutrition out of a small amount of ingredients. There are people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/every-peasant-cuisine-has-incredible-ingenious-tricks-for-getting-a/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) ## More by Tim Cook > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Televisions are devices with screens that things appear on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/televisions-are-devices-with-screens-that-things-appear-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The sidelines are not where you want to live your life. The world needs you in the arena!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/the-sidelines-are-not-where-you-want-to-live-your-life-the-world/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Honestly, we’ll compete with everybody. I love competition. As long as people invent their own stuff, I love competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/honestly-we-ll-compete-with-everybody-i-love-competition-as-long-as/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Apple is this great American company that could have only happened here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/apple-is-this-great-american-company-that-could-have-only-happened/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Our goal has never been to make the most. It's always been to make the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/our-goal-has-never-been-to-make-the-most-it-s-always-been-to-make-the/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [It's hard to edit. It's hard to stay focused. And yet, we know we'll only do our best work if we stay focused. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/it-s-hard-to-edit-it-s-hard-to-stay-focused-and-yet-we-know-we-ll/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The reality is, is that we love competition, at Apple. We think it makes us all better. But we want people to invent their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/the-reality-is-is-that-we-love-competition-at-apple-we-think-it-makes/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I love museums. But I don't want to live in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/i-love-museums-but-i-don-t-want-to-live-in-one/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [From an app point of view, if you looked at innovation on the PC, you'd be hard pressed to find companies innovating. The list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/from-an-app-point-of-view-if-you-looked-at-innovation-on-the-pc-you-d/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Without encryption, you and I wouldn't be able to do our banking online. We wouldn't be able to buy things online, because your credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/without-encryption-you-and-i-wouldn-t-be-able-to-do-our-banking/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [We have never said that we're perfect. We've said that we seek that. But we sometimes fall short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/we-have-never-said-that-we-re-perfect-we-ve-said-that-we-seek-that/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Those who try to achieve success without hard work ultimately deceive themselves-or worse-deceive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/those-who-try-to-achieve-success-without-hard-work-ultimately-deceive/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [The pre-owned market allows us to reach customers who really want an Apple device but can't really reach that point. I think it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/the-pre-owned-market-allows-us-to-reach-customers-who-really-want-an/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [America is always stronger when we do things together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/america-is-always-stronger-when-we-do-things-together/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) [Explore all 213 Tim Cook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) ## More Activist quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Social media is not just another way to connect feminist and activist voices - it amplifies our messages as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/social-media-is-not-just-another-way-to-connect-feminist-and-activist/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I have never been an activist for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-have-never-been-an-activist-for-anything/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [I've been an activist in the LGBT community for a long time. I think nothing's changed, I'm just a little bit more focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-been-an-activist-in-the-lgbt-community-for-a-long-time-i-think/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [I've been an activist since I was a teenager. I was always curious about what we would now call social justice. I remember just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-ve-been-an-activist-since-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-always-curious/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [You do what you know is good, because it's good, and then you have a certain peace of mind, saying, you've been an activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-do-what-you-know-is-good-because-it-s-good-and-then-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But Im an activist - thats just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/obviously-the-transgender-movement-has-not-progressed-in-the-way-that/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [“If you teach your children how to bully, or do nothing to stop them, teach them also how to die for their cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/if-you-teach-your-children-how-to-bully-or-do-nothing-to-stop-them/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) [Browse all 773 Activist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don’t consider myself an activist, but I realize how much I’ve benefited from the sacrifice of others. 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