People always quote this for all sorts of causes, but the fact that you're at one stage doesn't mean you're going to move to the next: - First they ignore you.

People always quote this for all sorts of causes, but the fact that you're at one stage doesn't mean you're going to move to the next: - First they ignore you. Nobody ever notices you. - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you. Nobody takes you seriously. - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you. You lose. - First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Congratulations! Now who are you ignoring? ISTM you need to have a plan for crossing each of the three filters, rather than saying "they're fighting us, therefore we'll win". EDIT: It's even funnier if you realise that the quote is symmetric and using it as an argument also proves its opposite. Activists often sub in government/"the system" as the "they", but activists could be the "they" from the system's perspective. They start by ignoring the system, then mocking it, then fighting it, then the system wins?