Terry Tempest Williams Quotes

We need more radicalism among us before we can speak as becomes a suffering, oppressed, and persecuted people.

I think for real change to happen, it's going to have to come from the kids, the community, the teachers, the parents.

Every important change in our society, for the good, at least, has taken place because of popular pressure-pressure from below, from the great mass of people.

These powerless people at the bottom are the ones with whom we must begin. They must have the insight and the knowledge to work together and recognise that they are on the right track.

I can think of few important movements for reform in which success was won by any method other than that of an energetic minority presenting the indifferent majority with a fait accompli, which was then accepted.

People must get active; go outside; get moving. This is a crucial time. You know, massive wealth and capital haven't budged one bit, so far. We have to give it a huge push if we want to see something different in our society. We need to create mechanisms and forms of organization which reflect the needs and wants of society as a whole, not just a privileged-oligarchic class of individuals.

Are people who want this kind of progressive change not turning up at polling stations? Are they not voting for progressive representatives? It's hard to put your finger on why we are where we are.

I'm probably the wrong person to ask. My partner in much of this work [climate movement], who really came up with the divestment campaign with me, Naomi Klein, I think has written powerfully about this.

There are good guys, and there are congressional people who are good guys, and I certainly vote in those elections. You know, my fondest dream would be if Obama, when he got out of office, decided he was going to go back and organize on the streets. He'd be the only person I could imagine who could really create a movement similar to what King did, and God knows we need that now.

I have always argued that we can't live by or be made to exist outside of mythology, and that every group and nation has, possibly unacknowledged to themselves, some myths by which they live. It remains important to revisit them, understand them and possibly retell them - or at least own up to them - and then it becomes possible to move something. If it's obscure or invisible to you, you can't budge those understandings.

No matter what the issues are, it has to be handled at the grassroots. When you take part in something, even though that movement may lose, the juices start flowing and you feel you count. You count. Well, that's pretty important.

All change starts with a distant rumble at the grassroots level.

Those who have changed the universe have never done it by changing officials, but always by inspiring the people.

If we can just convince other people to get involved, this could make some major changes in our society. It's very exhilarating.

The climate change movement is a river overflowing seeping into every nook and cranny.

All social change begins with a conversation.

It is our experience that the nation doesn't move around questions of genuine equality for the poor and for black people until it is confronted massively, dramatically in terms of direct action.

AIM in essence is a movement rather than just an organization. It is a manifestation of the desperation of our people.

Anything that you are achieving that undermines and threatens systems of power will meet with oppression. Systems of power don't say 'thank you.' What's important is not to focus all your efforts on the oppression, but to continue the constructive work.

The most important assets we have are our bodies and our energy which can be put to good use as resources in political activism for poor and working people.

Anybody who tries to change society without examining the family is trying to push a shadow without moving a statue.

The climate crisis requires a bottom-up, grassroots demand for solutions because the elites in many parts of the world are under the influence of old industry.

I'll have 15 letters today from mostly young kids who don't like what's going on and want to do something about it, and [they ask me] if I can give them some advice as to what they should do, or can I tell them what to read or something.

If we stand for change, we can spark a popular movement with power, influence, magic and genius.

Very great change starts from very small conversations, held among people who care.