We need a laissez faire that will hold fast to the ends of…
““We need a laissez faire that will hold fast to the ends of autonomy and freedom of choice; one that will begin not with the imaginary, abstract individual but with the personalities of human beings as they are actually given to us in association. ... To create the conditions within which autonomous individuals could prosper, could be emancipated from the binding ties of kinship, class, and community, was the objective of the older laissez faire. To create conditions within which autonomous groups may prosper must be, I believe, the prime objective of the new laissez faire. ... What we need at the present time is the knowledge and administrative skill to create a laissez faire in which the basic unit will be the social group. The liberal values of autonomy and freedom of personal choice are indispensable to a genuinely free society, but we shall achieve and maintain these only by vesting them in the conditions in which liberal democracy will thrive—diversity of culture, plurality of association, and division of authority.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern freedom requires structuring societies around diverse, autonomous groups rather than isolated individuals.
In simple terms: Freedom works best when groups, not just individuals, are empowered.
Key Takeaway
Design policies that support group autonomy.
Themes
autonomy
diversity
group dynamics
political theory
Mood
thoughtful
critical
hopeful
Type
political
philosophical
policy
When to use this quote
- community development
- policy design
- grassroots movements
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
social capital
pluralism
decentralization
collective agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms ensure groups respect individual freedoms?
- How can diverse groups cooperate toward common goals?
A Different Perspective
Group autonomy can conflict with individual rights and create fragmentation.