---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When did we begin to lose faith in our…"
description: "\"When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect change?\" — Wynton Marsalis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png"
---

#  When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect…

![“When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect change?” quote by Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png)

> “When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect change?”

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

## About This Quote

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

Societal confidence in personal impact has eroded over time due to systemic disillusionment.

**In simple terms:** We’ve lost belief in our power to change things.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and rebuild agency.

Themes

faith agency societal change disillusionment

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- community activism
- political participation
- personal goal setting

Key Concepts

civic engagement psychology collective efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal actions can restore belief in influence?
- How do institutions shape collective confidence?

A Different Perspective

Change is limited by structural barriers and apathy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/)

## Related quotes

> [Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/genius-is-the-ability-to-put-into-effect-what-is-on-your-mind/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [Successful comes from your ability, effect to how hard your want things or even how much you try///////](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-person-who-wrote-which-is-me/successful-comes-from-your-ability-effect-to-how-hard-your-want/)

The Person Who Wrote Which Is Me

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

> [Once I get into the box and get the opportunities, I have got faith in my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/once-i-get-into-the-box-and-get-the-opportunities-i-have-got-faith-in/)

[Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/)

> [Have faith in yourself and the ability to be you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-faith-in-yourself-and-the-ability-to-be-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I have no faith in my ability to judge things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-have-no-faith-in-my-ability-to-judge-things/)

[Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/)

> [Faith is the ability to see things that don't yet exist. Faith, though, can turn difficulty into reality, positive reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/faith-is-the-ability-to-see-things-that-don-t-yet-exist-faith-though/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [I've really tried to use the power of film to effect change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-shuler-donner/i-ve-really-tried-to-use-the-power-of-film-to-effect-change/)

[Lauren Shuler Donner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-shuler-donner/)

> [Most Hoosiers underestimate their ability to effect change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/most-hoosiers-underestimate-their-ability-to-effect-change/)

[Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/)

> [This is not the time for grieving, this is yet another chance to effect the change you much desire to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ore-abayomi/this-is-not-the-time-for-grieving-this-is-yet-another-chance-to/)

[Ore Abayomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ore-abayomi/)

> [Satire doesn't effect change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/satire-doesn-t-effect-change/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [I'm not a musical theatre person, and I never will be, especially after seeing the way it operates. It's so incredibly inefficient. It takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-taylor/i-m-not-a-musical-theatre-person-and-i-never-will-be-especially-after/)

[Roger Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-taylor/)

> [You can't change people but you can effect a change in them by your behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/you-can-t-change-people-but-you-can-effect-a-change-in-them-by-your/)

[Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/)

> [HOW CAN WE EFFECT CHANGE IN THE WORLD WHEN ONLY HALF OF IT IS INVITED OR FEEL WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/how-can-we-effect-change-in-the-world-when-only-half-of-it-is-invited/)

[Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/)

> [If you want to effect change, start small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/if-you-want-to-effect-change-start-small/)

[Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/)

## More by Wynton Marsalis

> [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [I always read all these books about the slaves. My mother is very educated. My father would talk to us like we were grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-always-read-all-these-books-about-the-slaves-my-mother-is-very/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [“The best musicians know this music isn't about "schools" at all. Like my father says, "There's only one school, the school of 'Can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/the-best-musicians-know-this-music-isn-t-about-schools-at-all-like-my/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Louis Armstrong is jazz. He represents what the music is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/louis-armstrong-is-jazz-he-represents-what-the-music-is-all-about/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [And that's the soulful thing about playing: you offer something to somebody. You don't know if they'll like it, but you offer it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/and-that-s-the-soulful-thing-about-playing-you-offer-something-to/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Ethics are more important than laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/ethics-are-more-important-than-laws/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [I'm not a person who writes really abstract things with oblique references. I look at abstraction like I look at condiments. Give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-a-person-who-writes-really-abstract-things-with-oblique/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Many a revolution started with the actions of a few. Only 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. A few hanging together can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/many-a-revolution-started-with-the-actions-of-a-few-only-56-men/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [In the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra we play such a diversity of music, with 10 arrangers in the band, we don't really worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/in-the-jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra-we-play-such-a-diversity-of/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Commercialism that has absolutely no relationship to quality whatsoever, only quantitative assessment of a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/commercialism-that-has-absolutely-no-relationship-to-quality/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Instead of imposing your will on every situation...focus on including everyone else, and just that little adjustment of attitude gives you the space to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/instead-of-imposing-your-will-on-every-situation-focus-on-including/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [I'm not afraid of you being yourself. That's America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-m-not-afraid-of-you-being-yourself-that-s-america/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [“I noticed that religion gave some people a way to escape dealing with the world: “Things will be better when you die,” the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-noticed-that-religion-gave-some-people-a-way-to-escape-dealing-with/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

> [Trumpet players see each other, and it's like we're getting ready to square off or get into a fight or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/trumpet-players-see-each-other-and-it-s-like-we-re-getting-ready-to/)

[Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

[Explore all 213 Wynton Marsalis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [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/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

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

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect change?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wynton Marsalis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-ability-to-effect-change/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-ability-to-effect-change/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/wynton-marsalis-1721_ability_when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-a_836527.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When did we begin to lose faith in our ability to effect change?” — Wynton Marsalis",
                "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": "Wynton Marsalis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When did we begin to lose...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-ability-to-effect-change/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/when-did-we-begin-to-lose-faith-in-our-ability-to-effect-change/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
