--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Independence is useful, but caring…" description: "\"Independence is useful, but caring attitudes and behaviors shrivel up in a culture where each person is responsible only for himself.\" — Alfie Kohn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg" --- # Independence is useful, but caring attitudes and behaviors… ![“Independence is useful, but caring attitudes and behaviors shrivel up in a culture where each person is responsible only for himself.” quote by Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg) > “Independence is useful, but caring attitudes and behaviors shrivel up in a culture where each person is responsible only for himself.” [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individualism neglects communal care; when everyone looks only after themselves, empathy and cooperation erode. **In simple terms:** Self‑focus harms community. Key Takeaway Balance personal responsibility with caring for others. Themes ethics community individualism care Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - workplace culture - family dynamics - public policy Key Concepts social responsibility collective welfare interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How can societies encourage both autonomy and mutual support? - What policies foster collective responsibility? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on self‑reliance can weaken social bonds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) ## Related quotes > [I'm caught up probably just as much in the consumer culture as the next person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-m-caught-up-probably-just-as-much-in-the-consumer-culture-as-the/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [What can we surmise about the likelihood of someone's being caring and generous, loving and helpful, just from knowing that they are a believer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/what-can-we-surmise-about-the-likelihood-of-someone-s-being-caring/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I've always been hopeful about Scotland's prospects. And I now believe more than ever that Scotland is within touching distance of achieving independence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-ve-always-been-hopeful-about-scotland-s-prospects-and-i-now-believe/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [We need a Supreme Court justice who will restore fairness, balance, and independence to the highest level of the judiciary. Based on his record,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-casey-jr/we-need-a-supreme-court-justice-who-will-restore-fairness-balance-and/) [Bob Casey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-casey-jr/) > [Even as people take pride in their national independence, we know we are becoming more and more interdependent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/even-as-people-take-pride-in-their-national-independence-we-know-we/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [We must learn to be self-reliant and independent of schools, courts, protection and patronage of a Government we seek to end, if it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/we-must-learn-to-be-self-reliant-and-independent-of-schools-courts/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I work hard, I make my own living and I love it. I like having financial independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-work-hard-i-make-my-own-living-and-i-love-it-i-like-having/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [America in the 1800s isn't quite the historical mystery hotbed as the same period in the country it bested in the War of Independence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/america-in-the-1800s-isn-t-quite-the-historical-mystery-hotbed-as-the/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Financial independence could be one of the factors, but most 65 plus artistes in our industry wish to continue working for the passion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/financial-independence-could-be-one-of-the-factors-but-most-65-plus/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [“...the solitude was intoxicating. On my first night there I lay on my back on the sticky carpet for hours, in the murky orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/the-solitude-was-intoxicating-on-my-first-night-there-i-lay-on-my/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) ## More by Alfie Kohn > [“Many of our elected officials have virtually handed the keys to our schools over to corporate interests. Presidential commissions on education are commonly chaired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/many-of-our-elected-officials-have-virtually-handed-the-keys-to-our/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [“a grade can be regarded only as an inadequate report of an inaccurate judgment by a biased and variable judge of the extent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/a-grade-can-be-regarded-only-as-an-inadequate-report-of-an-inaccurate/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [In some suburban schools, the curriculum is chock-full of rigorous A.P. courses and the parking lot glitters with pricey SUVs, but one doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/in-some-suburban-schools-the-curriculum-is-chock-full-of-rigorous-a-p/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [Standardized testing has swelled and mutated, like a creature in one of those old horror movies, to the point that it now threatens to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/standardized-testing-has-swelled-and-mutated-like-a-creature-in-one/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [If a child is off-task...mayb e the problem is not the child...maybe it's the task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/if-a-child-is-off-task-mayb-e-the-problem-is-not-the-child-maybe-it-s/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [If unconditional love and genuine enthusiasm are present, praise isn't necessary. If they're absent, praise won't help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/if-unconditional-love-and-genuine-enthusiasm-are-present-praise-isn-t/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [Most of us would protest that of course we love our children without any strings attached. But what counts is how things look from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/most-of-us-would-protest-that-of-course-we-love-our-children-without/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [What can we surmise about the likelihood of someone's being caring and generous, loving and helpful, just from knowing that they are a believer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/what-can-we-surmise-about-the-likelihood-of-someone-s-being-caring/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [When was the last time you spent the entire day with only 42 year olds?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/when-was-the-last-time-you-spent-the-entire-day-with-only-42-year-olds/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [Punishment and reward proceed from basically the same psychological model, one that conceives of motivation as nothing more than the manipulation of behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/punishment-and-reward-proceed-from-basically-the-same-psychological/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [Each time I visit such a classroom, where the teacher is more interested in creating a democratic community than in maintaining her position of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/each-time-i-visit-such-a-classroom-where-the-teacher-is-more/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [Educators remind us that what counts in a classroom is not what the teacher teaches; it’s what the learner learns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/educators-remind-us-that-what-counts-in-a-classroom-is-not-what-the/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [In short, with each of the thousand-and-one problems that present themselves in family life, our choice is between controlling and teaching, between creating an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/in-short-with-each-of-the-thousand-and-one-problems-that-present/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [To control students is to force them to accommodate to a preestablished curriculum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/to-control-students-is-to-force-them-to-accommodate-to-a/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [“But as I mastered the material, homework ceased to be necessary. A no homework policy is a challenge to me," he adds. "I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/but-as-i-mastered-the-material-homework-ceased-to-be-necessary-a-no/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) [Explore all 88 Alfie Kohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Independence is useful, but caring attitudes and behaviors shrivel up in a culture where each person is responsible only for himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfie Kohn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitudes-and-behaviors-shrivel-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitudes-and-behaviors-shrivel-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/alfie-kohn-7728_attitude_independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitu_776492.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Independence is useful, but caring attitudes and behaviors shrivel up in a culture where each person is…” — Alfie Kohn", "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": "Alfie Kohn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Independence is useful, but caring attitudes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitudes-and-behaviors-shrivel-up/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/independence-is-useful-but-caring-attitudes-and-behaviors-shrivel-up/#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 } } ] } ```