The society in which each man lives is at once the basis for, and the nemesis of, that fulness of life which each man seeks.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Society provides the foundation for human flourishing but also imposes constraints that limit individual fulfillment.
- In plain terms
- The world we live in helps us grow but also holds us back.
- What can you take from it?
- Balance social engagement with personal boundaries.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does your community support your goals?
- What limits do you accept?
Another view
Some societies may enable more fulfillment than others.
More from Reinhold Niebuhr
The individual or the group which organizes any society, however social its intentions or pretensions, arrogates an inordinate portion of social privilege to i…
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