An association of men who will not quarrel with one…
“An association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which has never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human cooperation without conflict is impossible; even large groups contain disagreements.
In simple terms: People always argue, even in groups.
Accept conflict as natural and manage it.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- government meetings
- community councils
- international alliances
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we harness disagreement constructively?
- What mechanisms reduce unnecessary conflict?
Some conflicts are productive, not all are detrimental.