If freedom makes social progress possible, so social progress strengthens and enlarges freedom. The two are inseparable partners in the great adventure of humanity.
Robert KennedyRead
There has been far too much hypocrisy in the field of civil rights. It is easy enough to give rousing speeches or call for legislation which has no possibility of passage.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Hypocrisy undermines genuine efforts for civil rights; empty promises are not enough.
Robert Kennedy's quote highlights the prevalence of hypocrisy in the civil rights movement, emphasizing that merely speaking in favor of rights or proposing laws that cannot be enacted does not contribute to meaningful change. He suggests that true commitment to civil rights requires more than words; it necessitates action and the ability to enact real, impactful change.
Themes
HypocrisyCivil RightsActionLegislationChange
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing a gathering on social justice, one might quote this to emphasize the need for genuine action rather than empty promises.
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