Is "Be the part of the change you want to see in the world!" bullshit?

[Belacqua]

This is how I interpret the meaning of "Be the change you wish to see in the world." If you think the world is cruel and greedy, you have to make yourself as kind and generous as possible. If the world is evil, you make yourself good. And you do this knowing it will have no impact on society at all. 

I would agree with this, though I also recognize that leading by example is a thing, and that others might follow - though I have no expectation that they will.

I think that's exactly right. We can hope that setting an example helps -- though in the end who knows. I hope that good parents, good teachers, etc. still have an effect, even if Hollywood usually teaches the opposite. 

I'm pretty sure that everything I'm saying here was modeled for me by my parents.