"Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat"
- Jean-Paul Sartre
About this Quote
This quote by Jean-Paul Sartre is a reminder that it is typically those who are not actively involved in a task or situation that are the ones who are more than likely to slam or disrupt it. It is easy to criticize from the sidelines, but it takes a great deal of effort and devotion to really become part of the solution. The quote is a suggestion that it is important to be part of the solution and not just slam from the sidelines. It is likewise a tip that it is important to be mindful of how our actions and words can impact the scenario. We must strive to be part of the solution and not just rock the boat.
"On embarking to return we could perceive no sign of One Tree Island; and as we swept down towards the sea the leafy top of a tree seen in the clear water under the boat was the only evidence of its existence; though a few hours ago it had formed so prominent an object"
"He said there is 80 of us, ready to come down and the next thing I knew is that Jo Brown dashed in and said your family has already moved and you have to move, the boat is ready to take you out. I didn't have time to ask, even ask a question"
"It's easier in some ways being on the life raft and the other guy's in the boat and you can row alongside and be supportive. In some ways, that's an easier role"
"Although I wasn't able to get a visa for Vietnam, I was able to talk with swift boat veterans to get a feel for the time and place, and I visited a tropical prison in the Philippines to get a sense of what a Vietnamese prison might have been like"
"'Weary Willie' is very real to me. He is a man who has given up. The boat has gone and left him. The cards are stacked against him. He's content to make out with what he's got. He knows he'll go no further"
