Human beings need community. If there are no communities…
“Human beings need community. If there are no communities available for constructive ends, there will be destructive, murderous communities... Only the social sector, that is, the nongovernmental, nonprofit organization, can create what we now need, communities for citizens... What the dawning 21st century needs above all is equally explosive growth of the nonprofit social sector in building communities in the newly dominant social environment, the city.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human beings thrive on constructive communities; lacking them, destructive groups emerge, so the nonprofit sector must build citizen communities in modern cities.
In simple terms: People need positive groups; without them, harmful groups form.
Key Takeaway
Support and expand nonprofit community building.
Themes
community
nonprofit
social development
urban life
Mood
optimistic
concerned
Type
policy
visionary
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- policy making
- nonprofit leadership
- community organizing
- citizen engagement
Key Concepts
social capital
collective action
civil society
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we incentivize nonprofit growth?
- What barriers prevent community formation in cities?
A Different Perspective
Nonprofits may lack resources or political support to scale effectively.