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Without our faith, we wouldn't have been able to succeed. On many occasions, before we'd go out on a sit-in, before we went on the freedom ride, before we marched from Selma to Montgomery, we would sing a song or say a prayer. Without our faith, without the spirit and spiritual bearings and underpinning, we would not have been so successful.
John Lewis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Faith is essential for success in challenging times.

In this quote, John Lewis emphasizes the profound role that faith plays in achieving success, especially during civil rights struggles. He reflects on the importance of spiritual beliefs and communal support, indicating that without such faith and conviction, the significant accomplishments of their movement would not have been possible.

Themes

FaithSuccessSpiritualityCourageCivil Rights

In practice

Example use cases

Using this quote during a motivational speech to inspire people to believe in their cause.

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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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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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