Acceptance Quote by A. Bartlett Giamatti
“A convention is a social pattern we have chosen to prefer over whatever the raw world simply proffers. It is a sign of the operation of the mind, drawing the assent of a sufficient number of other minds so that the agreement will be widely operative. A convention is not a custom; a custom is a habit in which a sufficient number acquiesce. A custom can appear as a convention, but it is really a lesser act, the result of passive acceptance rather than of the imposition of design. It is the difference between learning to live by the annual flooding of the river or by a calendar.”
About This Quote
Conventions are collective agreements shaped by intentional design, unlike customs which arise from passive habit.
In simple terms: Conventions are chosen rules; customs are habits.
Key Takeaway
Design your social norms deliberately.
Themes
society
culture
psychology
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- organizational policy
- community rituals
- social movements
Key Concepts
convention
custom
collective agreement
Questions to Reflect On
- What conventions do you accept without questioning?
- How can you transform a custom into a conscious convention?
A Different Perspective
Customs can become entrenched and resist change even when harmful.
![“[The Federal Convention] is really an assembly of demigods.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b1/thomas-jefferson-43_assembly_the-federal-convention-is-really-an-asse_2104154.jpg)
