---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There can be no settlement of a great…"
description: "\"There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until their attention is drawn to it.\" — William Je..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png"
---

#  There can be no settlement of a great cause without…

![“There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until their attention is drawn to it.” quote by William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png)

> “There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until their attention is drawn to it.”

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Important causes require public discussion; attention must be drawn to them before people will engage.

**In simple terms:** Discussion sparks action on important issues.

Key Takeaway

Raise awareness to spark dialogue.

Themes

politics activism communication

Mood

urgent thoughtful

Type

inspirational strategic

When to use this quote

- community meetings
- media campaigns
- educational workshops

Key Concepts

public discourse attention economics civic engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- What methods effectively draw attention to neglected causes?
- How can you sustain interest after the initial spark?

A Different Perspective

Not all topics attract attention equally.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [Some people brag about their problems too much and it just gets me pissed off. Why? I dunnoo,Maybe it 'cause they do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/some-people-brag-about-their-problems-too-much-and-it-just-gets-me/)

[Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/)

> [Just cause, everyone who was there put their full attention into it, people bringing new ideas to the table, thats what was going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/just-cause-everyone-who-was-there-put-their-full-attention-into-it/)

[Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/)

> [The aspect of congresses and such meetings generally to which I attach the greatest importance is the discussion. That is why people assemble: to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-bajer/the-aspect-of-congresses-and-such-meetings-generally-to-which-i/)

[Fredrik Bajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-bajer/)

> [I am kind of like the guide, the leader of this discussion. It could be from me, it could be from other people, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-am-kind-of-like-the-guide-the-leader-of-this-discussion-it-could-be/)

[Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/)

> [A key difference between a dialogue and an ordinary discussion is that, within the latter people usually hold relatively fixed positions and argue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/a-key-difference-between-a-dialogue-and-an-ordinary-discussion-is/)

[David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/)

> [People discuss parenting the way they talk about denominations of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/people-discuss-parenting-the-way-they-talk-about-denominations-of/)

[Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/)

> [Great people discuss eras, average people discuss trends, and small people discuss labels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/great-people-discuss-eras-average-people-discuss-trends-and-small/)

[Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/)

> [So many people discuss, you know, Israel/Palestine as if it's people on a spectrum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/so-many-people-discuss-you-know-israel-palestine-as-if-it-s-people-on/)

[Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/)

> [We must have safe places where people can discuss and be treated. Forty-four million people are already dead from AIDS. What logic is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/we-must-have-safe-places-where-people-can-discuss-and-be-treated/)

[Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/)

> [I don't think I can remember a moment in my life where people didn't discuss politics. People discuss politics at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-nielsen/i-don-t-think-i-can-remember-a-moment-in-my-life-where-people-didn-t/)

[Connie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-nielsen/)

> [I give boring people something to discuss over corn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/i-give-boring-people-something-to-discuss-over-corn/)

[Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/)

> [I think it's important that people stand up for what they believe in. It's important that people discuss things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/i-think-it-s-important-that-people-stand-up-for-what-they-believe-in-2/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [We knew the Syrian situation was complex and there were lots of divisions, particularly on the side of the opposition... This is a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-knew-the-syrian-situation-was-complex-and-there-were-lots-of/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [Peace is more of an internal settlement rather than what is visible on the external.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/peace-is-more-of-an-internal-settlement-rather-than-what-is-visible/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [ The fundamental principle \[of settlement work\] remains: that people shall take up their residence in industrial communities, giving what they may have of public… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-wald/the-fundamental-principle-of-settlement-work-remains-that-people/)

[Lillian Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-wald/)

## More by William Jennings Bryan

> [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Agnosticism is the natural attitude of the evolutionist. How can a brute mind comprehend spiritual things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/agnosticism-is-the-natural-attitude-of-the-evolutionist-how-can-a/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [“The only part of evolution in which any considerable interest is felt is evolution applied to man. A hypothesis in regard to the rocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-only-part-of-evolution-in-which-any-considerable-interest-is-felt/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Greed is at the bottom of most of the wrong-doing with which government has to deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/greed-is-at-the-bottom-of-most-of-the-wrong-doing-with-which/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [If you want criticisms, read the dissenting opinions of the Court. That will give you criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-you-want-criticisms-read-the-dissenting-opinions-of-the-court-that/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Behold a republic standing erect while empires all around are bowed beneath the weight of their own armaments - a republic whose flag is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/behold-a-republic-standing-erect-while-empires-all-around-are-bowed/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Whenever one refuses to admit such a self-evident truth, for instance, as that it is wrong to steal, don't argue with him-search him; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/whenever-one-refuses-to-admit-such-a-self-evident-truth-for-instance/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [New York is the city of privilege. Here is the seat of the Invisible Power represented by the allied forces of finance and industry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/new-york-is-the-city-of-privilege-here-is-the-seat-of-the-invisible/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [If we have to give up either religion or education, we should give up education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-we-have-to-give-up-either-religion-or-education-we-should-give-up/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [The great political questions are in their final analysis great moral questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-great-political-questions-are-in-their-final-analysis-great-moral/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [If it be true, as I believe it is, that morality is dependent upon religion, then religion is not only the most practical thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-it-be-true-as-i-believe-it-is-that-morality-is-dependent-upon/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [“We will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: "You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/we-will-answer-their-demand-for-a-gold-standard-by-saying-to-them-you/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Most of the temptations that come to us to sell the soul come in connection with the getting of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/most-of-the-temptations-that-come-to-us-to-sell-the-soul-come-in/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

> [Atheists have just as much civil right to teach atheism as Christians have to teach Christianity; agnostics have just as much right to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/atheists-have-just-as-much-civil-right-to-teach-atheism-as-christians/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

[Explore all 110 William Jennings Bryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

## More Attention quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/)

[Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/)

[Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/)

> [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/)

[Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/)

> [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/)

[Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/)

[Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/)

> [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/)

[Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/)

[Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until their attention is drawn to it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Jennings Bryan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-cause-without-discussion-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-cause-without-discussion-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/william-jennings-bryan-4474_attention_there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-ca_2212516.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There can be no settlement of a great cause without discussion, and people will not discuss a cause until…” — William Jennings Bryan",
                "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": "William Jennings Bryan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There can be no settlement of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-cause-without-discussion-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/there-can-be-no-settlement-of-a-great-cause-without-discussion-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
