In our opinion, there is no public good other than one…
![“In our opinion, there is no public good other than one that assures the citizens' private good; we judge institutions from the point of view of the concrete opportunities they give to individuals. But neither do we confuse the idea of private interest with happiness[...]. We cannot really know…” quote by Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/1c8/simone-de-beauvoir-407_democracy_in-our-opinion-there-is-no-public-good-o_786424.jpg)
““In our opinion, there is no public good other than one that assures the citizens' private good; we judge institutions from the point of view of the concrete opportunities they give to individuals. But neither do we confuse the idea of private interest with happiness[...]. We cannot really know what the word 'happiness' means, and still less what authentic values it covers; there is no way to measure the happiness of others, and it is always easy to call a situation that one would like to impose on others happy: in particular, we declare happy those condemned to stagnation, under the pretext that happiness is immobility.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Public good is defined by how institutions enable individuals' real opportunities, not by imposing a vague notion of happiness.
In simple terms: Good policies empower people, not just claim happiness.
Key Takeaway
Focus on concrete freedoms for individuals.
Themes
freedom
public policy
individual welfare
ethical theory
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
analytical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legislative reform
- urban planning
- education access
- healthcare design
- community development
Key Concepts
existentialism
social contract
value theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we assess the real opportunities institutions provide?
- What alternatives to happiness can guide public policy?
A Different Perspective
Happiness is subjective and hard to measure, making it a weak basis for policy.