--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a properly organized society like…" description: "\"“In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable befor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/aldous-huxley-97_free-play_in-a-properly-organized-society-like-our_865273.jpg" --- # In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any… ![“In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable before the occasion can arise. When there are wars, where there are divided allegiances, where there are temptations to be resisted, objects of love to…” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/aldous-huxley-97_free-play_in-a-properly-organized-society-like-our_865273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/aldous-huxley-97_free-play_in-a-properly-organized-society-like-our_865273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/aldous-huxley-97_free-play_in-a-properly-organized-society-like-our_865273.jpg) > ““In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable before the occasion can arise. When there are wars, where there are divided allegiances, where there are temptations to be resisted, objects of love to be fought for or defended - there, obviously, nobility and heroism have some sense. But there aren't any wars nowadays. The greatest care is taken to prevent you from loving anyone too much. There's no such thing as a divided allegiance; you're so conditioned that you can't help doing what you ought to do. And what you ought to do is on the whole so pleasant, so many of the natural impulses are allowed free play, that there really aren't any temptations to resist. And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there's always soma to give you a holiday from the facts. And there's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. now, you swallow two or three half-gramme tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your mortality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears - that's what soma is.”” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The novel argues that a stable, pleasure‑focused society eliminates the conditions—conflict, hardship, and moral struggle—necessary for true heroism and virtue, replacing effort with drug‑induced compliance. **In simple terms:** A calm society removes challenges, making heroism rare and virtue easy. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of genuine struggle over artificial comfort. Themes society heroism virtue control comfort Mood reflective critical thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - personal growth - ethical decision making - resisting complacency - building resilience - cultivating authentic relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology political critique Questions to Reflect On - What challenges could you embrace to develop character? - How does comfort affect moral responsibility? A Different Perspective Even with comforts, humans may still seek meaning beyond ease. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-play/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) ## Related quotes > [“...civilization has absolutely no need of nobility or heroism. These things are symptoms of political inefficiency. In a properly organized society like ours, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/civilization-has-absolutely-no-need-of-nobility-or-heroism-these-2/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“But God's the reason for everything noble and fine and heroic. If you had a God …" "My dear young friend," said Mustapha Mond,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/but-god-s-the-reason-for-everything-noble-and-fine-and-heroic-if-you/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“civilization has absolutely no need of nobility or heroism. These things are symptoms of political inefficiency. In a properly organized society like ours, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/civilization-has-absolutely-no-need-of-nobility-or-heroism-these/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Where there are wars, where there are divided allegiances, where there are temptations to be resisted, objects of love to be fought for or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/where-there-are-wars-where-there-are-divided-allegiances-where-there/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Civilization has absolutely no need of nobility or heroism. These things are symptoms of political ineffiency. In a properly organized society like ours, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/civilization-has-absolutely-no-need-of-nobility-or-heroism-these-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/but-this-is-predicated-upon-the-man-s-becoming-in-very-fact-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that-if-the-immigrant-who-comes-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-divided-allegiance-here-any-man-who-says-he-is-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I think free-to-play is both exciting and also really dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-think-free-to-play-is-both-exciting-and-also-really-dangerous/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [“What we have witnessed in our own time is the death of universities as centres of critique. Since Margaret Thatcher, the role of academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/what-we-have-witnessed-in-our-own-time-is-the-death-of-universities/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [What is contrary to women's nature to do, they never will be made to do by simply giving their nature free play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/what-is-contrary-to-women-s-nature-to-do-they-never-will-be-made-to/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [You see a child play, and it is so close to seeing an artist paint, for in play a child says things without uttering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-erikson/you-see-a-child-play-and-it-is-so-close-to-seeing-an-artist-paint-for/) [Erik Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-erikson/) > [Genius is not a possession of the limited few, but exists in some degree in everyone. Where there is natural growth, a full and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/genius-is-not-a-possession-of-the-limited-few-but-exists-in-some/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [“Send your kid to a summer camp focused on free play. One such place is Gever Tulley’s Tinkering School—a sleepover summer camp in Half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lythcott-haims/send-your-kid-to-a-summer-camp-focused-on-free-play-one-such-place-is/) [Julie Lythcott-Haims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lythcott-haims/) > [There's a myth that free-to-play is cheaper than a $60 game. It's just elastic. For some users, it winds up being a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-lasky/there-s-a-myth-that-free-to-play-is-cheaper-than-a-60-game-it-s-just/) [Mitch Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-lasky/) ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Then what’s time for?” asked Lenina in some astonishment. Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Free play quotes > [There's a myth that free-to-play is cheaper than a $60 game. It's just elastic. For some users, it winds up being a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-lasky/there-s-a-myth-that-free-to-play-is-cheaper-than-a-60-game-it-s-just/) [Mitch Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-lasky/) > [“Send your kid to a summer camp focused on free play. One such place is Gever Tulley’s Tinkering School—a sleepover summer camp in Half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lythcott-haims/send-your-kid-to-a-summer-camp-focused-on-free-play-one-such-place-is/) [Julie Lythcott-Haims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lythcott-haims/) > [Genius is not a possession of the limited few, but exists in some degree in everyone. Where there is natural growth, a full and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/genius-is-not-a-possession-of-the-limited-few-but-exists-in-some/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [You see a child play, and it is so close to seeing an artist paint, for in play a child says things without uttering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-erikson/you-see-a-child-play-and-it-is-so-close-to-seeing-an-artist-paint-for/) [Erik Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-erikson/) > [What is contrary to women's nature to do, they never will be made to do by simply giving their nature free play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/what-is-contrary-to-women-s-nature-to-do-they-never-will-be-made-to/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“What we have witnessed in our own time is the death of universities as centres of critique. Since Margaret Thatcher, the role of academia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/what-we-have-witnessed-in-our-own-time-is-the-death-of-universities/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [I think free-to-play is both exciting and also really dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-think-free-to-play-is-both-exciting-and-also-really-dangerous/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [Science is not formal logic-it needs the free play of the mind in as great a degree as any other creative art. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-born/science-is-not-formal-logic-it-needs-the-free-play-of-the-mind-in-as/) [Max Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-born/) > [Bizarrely, a lot of the innovations in free-to-play are coming out of the PC space rather than the mobile space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/bizarrely-a-lot-of-the-innovations-in-free-to-play-are-coming-out-of/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [What I mean by the Muse is that unimpeded clearness of the intuitive powers, which a perfectly truthful adherence to every admonition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/what-i-mean-by-the-muse-is-that-unimpeded-clearness-of-the-intuitive/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [For the auditioning process, I love to move my body around, maybe dance a little bit, get myself in a really loose place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolk/for-the-auditioning-process-i-love-to-move-my-body-around-maybe-dance/) [James Wolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolk/) > [“When the government designates as punishable all play of mind against the state, the moderate liberals come and opine that fun, satire, wit, humor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/when-the-government-designates-as-punishable-all-play-of-mind-against/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [All our thinking is of this nature, a free play with concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/all-our-thinking-is-of-this-nature-a-free-play-with-concepts/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > ['Fortnite' really is just the perfect storm of a game. You have the fact that it's free to play on almost every platform, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninja/fortnite-really-is-just-the-perfect-storm-of-a-game-you-have-the-fact/) Ninja > [In a world of free, everyone can play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/in-a-world-of-free-everyone-can-play/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) [Browse all 65 Free play quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-play/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In a properly organized society like ours, nobody has any opportunities for being noble or heroic. Conditions have got to be thoroughly unstable before the occasion can arise. When there are wars, where there are divided allegiances, where there are temptations to be resisted, objects of love to be fought for or defended - there, obviously, nobility and heroism have some sense. But there aren't any wars nowadays. The greatest care is taken to prevent you from loving anyone too much. There's no such thing as a divided allegiance; you're so conditioned that you can't help doing what you ought to do. And what you ought to do is on the whole so pleasant, so many of the natural impulses are allowed free play, that there really aren't any temptations to resist. And if ever, by some unlucky chance, anything unpleasant should somehow happen, why, there's always soma to give you a holiday from the facts. And there's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. now, you swallow two or three half-gramme tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your mortality about in a bottle. 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