The great and invigorating influences in American life have been the unorthodox: the people who challenge an existing institution or way of life, or say and do things that make people think.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Progress in America often comes from people who challenge norms and encourage critical thinking.
- In plain terms
- Unconventional people make society better by questioning the status quo.
- What can you take from it?
- Challenging norms drives cultural progress.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who in your life challenges norms?
- Why do societies resist change?
Another view
Not all challenges to tradition lead to positive outcomes.
More from William O. Douglas
The Constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs of people.
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