Progressive societies outgrow institutions as children outgrow clothes.
Henry GeorgeRead
Compare society to a boat. Her progress through the water will not depend upon the exertion of her crew, but upon the exertion devoted to propelling her. This will be lessened by any expenditure of force in fighting among themselves, or in pulling in different directions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Society's progress is influenced by collective effort rather than individual conflict.
This quote by Henry George illustrates the idea that a society, much like a boat, can only move forward when its members work together harmoniously. When individuals fail to cooperate and instead focus on internal strife or personal disagreements, the overall progress is hindered, suggesting that unity and collaboration are essential for any community to thrive.
Themes
SocietyUnityCollaborationProgressCooperation
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting discussing project goals, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of teamwork.
More from Henry George
All quotes →The march of invention has clothed mankind with powers of which a century ago the boldest imagination could not have dreamt.
Henry GeorgeRead
It is not the business of government to make men virtuous or religious, or to preserve the fool from the consequences of his own folly. Government should be repressive no further than is necessary to secure liberty by protecting the equal rights of each from aggression on the part of others, and the moment governmental prohibitions extend beyond this line they are in danger of defeating the very ends they are intended to serve.
Henry GeorgeRead
Poorly paid labor is inefficient labor, the world over.
Henry GeorgeRead
The protection of the masses has in all times been the pretense of tyranny - the plea of monarchy, of aristocracy, of special privilege of every kind. The slave owners justified slavery as protecting the slaves.
Henry GeorgeRead
So long as all the increased wealth which modern progress brings goes but to build up great fortunes, to increase luxury and make sharper the contrast between the House of Have and the House of Want, progress is not real and cannot be permanent.
Henry GeorgeRead
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