---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The good or healthy society would then be…"
description: "\"The good or healthy society would then be defined as one that permitted people's highest purposes to emerge by satisfying all their basic needs.\" — Abr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg"
---

#  The good or healthy society would then be defined as one…

![“The good or healthy society would then be defined as one that permitted people's highest purposes to emerge by satisfying all their basic needs.” quote by Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg)

> “The good or healthy society would then be defined as one that permitted people's highest purposes to emerge by satisfying all their basic needs.”

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A healthy society lets people fulfill their highest goals by first meeting basic needs.

**In simple terms:** Meet needs, then pursue purpose.

Key Takeaway

Ensure basic needs are met before higher aspirations.

Themes

well‑being human potential needs hierarchy

Mood

optimistic inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- social policy
- education
- community development

Key Concepts

self‑actualization basic needs

Questions to Reflect On

- What basic needs are unmet in your community?
- How does meeting those needs unlock higher purpose?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring basic needs can stall personal growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Basic needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-needs/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Healthy society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-society/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/)

## Related quotes

> [“To seek enlightenment, intellectual or spiritual; to do good; to love and be loved; to create and to teach: these are the highest purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-monbiot/to-seek-enlightenment-intellectual-or-spiritual-to-do-good-to-love/)

[George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-monbiot/)

> [We can be content with simplicity because the deepest most satisfying delights God gives us through creation are free gifts from nature and from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-can-be-content-with-simplicity-because-the-deepest-most-satisfying/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [We are determined to build a society defined by decency and integrity that does not tolerate the plunder of public resources nor the theft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/we-are-determined-to-build-a-society-defined-by-decency-and-integrity/)

[Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/)

> [A society - any society - is defined as a set of mutual benefits and duties embodied most visibly in public institutions: public schools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/a-society-any-society-is-defined-as-a-set-of-mutual-benefits-and/)

[Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/)

> [What we call a democratic society might be defined for certain purposes as one in which the majority is always prepared to put down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/what-we-call-a-democratic-society-might-be-defined-for-certain/)

[Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/)

> [There is no point in being a responsible member of society, nor is there any point in being an irresponsible member of society. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-point-in-being-a-responsible-member-of-society-nor-is/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-society-is-defined-not-only-by-what-it-creates-but-by-what-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The concept of "mental health" in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-kaczynski/the-concept-of-mental-health-in-our-society-is-defined-largely-by-the/)

[Theodore Kaczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-kaczynski/)

> [“A society is defined not only by what it creates but also by what it refuses to destroy. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-society-is-defined-not-only-by-what-it-creates-but-also-by-what-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Don't let society's defined genre hold you down, be a free spirit and just write, let society be the one to decide where each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uma-nnenna/don-t-let-society-s-defined-genre-hold-you-down-be-a-free-spirit-and/)

Uma Nnenna

> [Secrecy, censorship, dishonesty, and blocking of communication threaten all the basic needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/secrecy-censorship-dishonesty-and-blocking-of-communication-threaten/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [When people appear to be something other than good and decent, it is only because they are reacting to stress, pain, or the deprivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/when-people-appear-to-be-something-other-than-good-and-decent-it-is/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [If we dont figure out a way to create equity, real equity, of opportunity and access, to good schools, housing, health care, and decent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/if-we-dont-figure-out-a-way-to-create-equity-real-equity-of/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [Building a world where we meet our own needs without denying future generations a healthy society is not impossible, as some would assert. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/building-a-world-where-we-meet-our-own-needs-without-denying-future/)

[Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/)

> [I learned that a healthy society is made up of loving, trusting individuals, and that these individuals in turn protect their environment, become stewards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lim/i-learned-that-a-healthy-society-is-made-up-of-loving-trusting/)

[Robin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lim/)

## More by Abraham Maslow

> [It is unfortunate to consider all lawyers as natural Satanists many are just dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-unfortunate-to-consider-all-lawyers-as-natural-satanists-many/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [Laugh at what you hold sacred, and still hold it sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/laugh-at-what-you-hold-sacred-and-still-hold-it-sacred/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [Good psychology should include all the methodological techniques, without having loyalty to one method, one idea, or one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/good-psychology-should-include-all-the-methodological-techniques/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [Well why not a technology of joy, of happiness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/well-why-not-a-technology-of-joy-of-happiness/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [We fear our highest possibilities. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments, under conditions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/we-fear-our-highest-possibilities-we-are-generally-afraid-to-become/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [If you love the truth, you'll trust it - that is, you will expect it to be good, beautiful, perfect, orderly, etc., in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/if-you-love-the-truth-you-ll-trust-it-that-is-you-will-expect-it-to/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [My feeling is that the concept of creativeness and the concept of the healthy, self actualizing, fully human person seem to be coming closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/my-feeling-is-that-the-concept-of-creativeness-and-the-concept-of-the/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [We fear our highest possibility. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/we-fear-our-highest-possibility-we-are-generally-afraid-to-become/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [...the great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-great-lesson-is-that-the-sacred-is-in-the-ordinary-that-it-is-to/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [Dispassionate objectivity is itself a passion, for the real and for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/dispassionate-objectivity-is-itself-a-passion-for-the-real-and-for/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-ability-to-be-in-the-present-moment-is-a-major-component-of/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [Plateau experiencing can be achieved, learned, earned by long hard work… A transient glimpse is certainly possible in the peak experiences which may, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/plateau-experiencing-can-be-achieved-learned-earned-by-long-hard-work/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [You must want to be first-class ...meaning the best, the very best you are capable of becoming. If you deliberately plan to be less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/you-must-want-to-be-first-class-meaning-the-best-the-very-best-you/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [If you treat your children at home in the same way you treat your animals in the lab, your wife will scratch your eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/if-you-treat-your-children-at-home-in-the-same-way-you-treat-your/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [It is vital that people "count their blessings:" to appreciate what they possess without having to undergo its actual loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-vital-that-people-count-their-blessings-to-appreciate-what-they/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

[Explore all 182 Abraham Maslow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

## More Basic needs quotes

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [Well the real concept of basic needs if you cut it right down are simply the physical needs that are unavoidable for all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/well-the-real-concept-of-basic-needs-if-you-cut-it-right-down-are/)

[Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/)

> [I have always believed that the ultimate purpose of economic policies and development policy is to meet the basic needs of our people. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manmohan-singh/i-have-always-believed-that-the-ultimate-purpose-of-economic-policies/)

[Manmohan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manmohan-singh/)

> [One of the concepts I was having trouble illustrating was the concept that administrative systems create narrow categories of gender and force people into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/one-of-the-concepts-i-was-having-trouble-illustrating-was-the-concept/)

[Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/)

> [“Technology doesn’t change people’s basic needs or their natures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priya-ardis/technology-doesn-t-change-people-s-basic-needs-or-their-natures/)

[Priya Ardis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priya-ardis/)

> [I hope that if you are employed full-time, you are doing it to ensure that basic needs are met and not simply to indulge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-hope-that-if-you-are-employed-full-time-you-are-doing-it-to-ensure/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [We can build an economy that does not destroy its natural support systems, a global community where the basic needs of all the Earth's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/we-can-build-an-economy-that-does-not-destroy-its-natural-support/)

[Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/)

> [“Life and Abundance (The Sonnet) A person to take refuge in, a purpose to be driven by, that's all you need to lead a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/life-and-abundance-the-sonnet-a-person-to-take-refuge-in-a-purpose-to/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Advanced industrialised economies like ourselves cannot afford to go on growing, particularly if we want to give people in poorer countries a chance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/advanced-industrialised-economies-like-ourselves-cannot-afford-to-go/)

[Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/)

> [He who has got more than that is required to fulfill his basic need spends his resources, more often than not, on the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/he-who-has-got-more-than-that-is-required-to-fulfill-his-basic-need/)

[Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/)

> [The change in economic values created by the new markets for global public goods will reorient our global economy and under the right conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graciela-chichilnisky/the-change-in-economic-values-created-by-the-new-markets-for-global/)

[Graciela Chichilnisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graciela-chichilnisky/)

> [Pay your utilities, gas and other basic needs before paying on your debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/pay-your-utilities-gas-and-other-basic-needs-before-paying-on-your/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [Your business should be defined, not in terms of the product or service you offer, but in terms of what customer need your product…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/your-business-should-be-defined-not-in-terms-of-the-product-or/)

[Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/)

> [Secrecy, censorship, dishonesty, and blocking of communication threaten all the basic needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/secrecy-censorship-dishonesty-and-blocking-of-communication-threaten/)

[Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/)

> [The religious urge in man is not a mere passing phase in the history of his spiritual development, but the ultimate source of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-asad/the-religious-urge-in-man-is-not-a-mere-passing-phase-in-the-history/)

[Muhammad Asad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-asad/)

[Browse all 109 Basic needs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-needs/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The good or healthy society would then be defined as one that permitted people's highest purposes to emerge by satisfying all their basic needs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Abraham Maslow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-be-defined-as-one-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Basic needs"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-be-defined-as-one-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/abraham-maslow-2146_basic-needs_the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-b_1563452.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The good or healthy society would then be defined as one that permitted people's highest purposes to emerge…” — Abraham Maslow",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Abraham Maslow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The good or healthy society would...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-be-defined-as-one-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-good-or-healthy-society-would-then-be-defined-as-one-that/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```