We'll organize workers in this movement as long as we're willing to sacrifice. The moment we stop sacrificing, we stop organizing.
Interpretation
Sacrifice is essential for progress in organizing workers' movements.
This quote by Cesar Chavez highlights the importance of sacrifice in organizing efforts aimed at improving the lives of workers. It suggests that true dedication to a cause requires individuals to be willing to give up certain comforts or securities for the greater good, and once that willingness diminishes, the movement's momentum is lost.
In practice
This quote can inspire labor unions during collective bargaining meetings.
I became a vegetarian after realizing that animals feel afraid, cold, hungry and unhappy like we do. I feel very deeply about vegetarianism and the animal kingdom. It was my dog Boycott who led me to question the right of humans to eat other sentient beings.
I think one of the great, great problems...is confusing people to the point where they become immobile. In fact, the more things people can find out for themselves, the more vigor the organization is going to have.
In the final analysis it doesn't really matter what the political system is...We don't need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.
There is enough love and good will in our movement to give energy to our struggle and still have plenty left over to break down and change the climate of hate and fear around us.
Our union represents a breaking away...represents sharing a power, represent questioning, represents a new force...however long it takes, we are geared for a struggle.
Every time we sit at a table at night or in the morning to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations.
One thing the gay rights movement taught the world is the importance of being visible.
The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.
Women often find great roles in revolution, simply because the rules fall apart and everyone has agency, anyone can act.
We do not succeed in changing things according to our desire, but gradually our desire changes.
You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
Climate change pries further apart the haves and have-nots.
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