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If someone had told me in 1963 that one day I would be in Congress, I would have said, 'You're crazy. You don't know what you're talking about.'
John Lewis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the unexpected journey of an individual achieving significant societal roles against the odds.

John Lewis's quote signifies the unpredictability of life and how unforeseen opportunities can arise from humble beginnings or challenges. It illustrates how one's perspective can shift over time, emphasizing the importance of resilience and belief in one's potential to drive meaningful change in society.

Themes

LeadershipChangeResilienceOpportunityBelief

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about community involvement and politics.

More from John Lewis

The March on Washington was a March for Jobs and Freedom. There are still too many people who are unemployed or underemployed in America - they're black, white, Latino, Native American and Asian American.
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The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.
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Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work.
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I say to people today, 'You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.'
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We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.
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If it hadn't been for that march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, there would be no Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.
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