Often we're having an argument with something imaginary - a fixed idea of the "enemy" and the good. We need to get beyond that and actually develop a deep curiosity about people and systems and understand them better.

I sound like a church nut, but look at the role of the churches in the civil rights movement in the States. People are brought together in other ways that can become drivers of change.

Floundering around, learning by doing but also by failing, is not only good but inevitable.

In the end, that's a blind alley - we have to get back to being able to think on our feet and react.

To be effective at selling ideas, at being a lobbyist, influencing other people, you have to be very sure of yourself.

In any system, there will be change happening without you.

Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people who are working on [change] find that very difficult: They've been schooled into thinking you have to come up with the perfect plan in advance. It has become a bit technocratic.