"To get involved with a cause, you really have to become aware of it. You have to go on the ground and see with your own eyes, the people who have been affected by it, their process in how they're combating it, and what the organization represents"
About this Quote
The subtext is celebrity-specific. Actors are perpetually suspect as do-gooders: too performative, too detached, too eager to turn causes into branding. By insisting on “on the ground” and “your own eyes,” Arquette preemptively answers the accusation that advocacy is just another role. He’s also shifting attention away from the savior narrative. The focal point isn’t the supporter’s feelings; it’s “the people who have been affected” and “how they’re combating it.” That phrasing tries to place agency with communities rather than with the famous person arriving with a camera-ready epiphany.
There’s a shrewd acknowledgment here of how nonprofits and movements can be misunderstood from a distance. “What the organization represents” signals that logos and mission statements aren’t the same as lived practice; the only way to tell is to witness the work and its consequences. In a culture that rewards instant takes and viral solidarity, Arquette’s intent is almost analog: slow down, verify, listen, then act. It’s less a call to empathy than a demand for accountability - to the cause, and to the people living inside it.
Quote Details
| Topic | Human Rights |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Arquette, David. (2026, January 16). To get involved with a cause, you really have to become aware of it. You have to go on the ground and see with your own eyes, the people who have been affected by it, their process in how they're combating it, and what the organization represents. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/to-get-involved-with-a-cause-you-really-have-to-110420/
Chicago Style
Arquette, David. "To get involved with a cause, you really have to become aware of it. You have to go on the ground and see with your own eyes, the people who have been affected by it, their process in how they're combating it, and what the organization represents." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/to-get-involved-with-a-cause-you-really-have-to-110420/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"To get involved with a cause, you really have to become aware of it. You have to go on the ground and see with your own eyes, the people who have been affected by it, their process in how they're combating it, and what the organization represents." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/to-get-involved-with-a-cause-you-really-have-to-110420/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.







