We like rather to dream of a body of young men as a live thing, as a tree where all the branches are nourished by a single sap, and where each part is meaningless and incomplete except in connection with its fellows. You may lop away the dead branches, you may bend the trunk, you may dig about it and water it; but leave it to assume its own form, do not constrain the peculiar roots, or you will have a crippled, gnarled monster, and no tree.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Groups should grow naturally; forcing structure harms their unity.
- In plain terms
- Let groups grow naturally to stay healthy.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid forcing structure on natural groups.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you help groups grow?
- What limits healthy growth?
Another view
Some structure is needed for safety and direction.
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