--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Social and cultural change, however…" description: "\"Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/barry-goldwater-3353_change_social-and-cultural-change-however-desir_60657.png" --- # Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not… ![“Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to improve institutions we deem defective. But let us, in doing so, respect the orderly processes of the law. Any other course enthrones tyrants…” quote by Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/barry-goldwater-3353_change_social-and-cultural-change-however-desir_60657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/barry-goldwater-3353_change_social-and-cultural-change-however-desir_60657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/barry-goldwater-3353_change_social-and-cultural-change-however-desir_60657.png) > “Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to improve institutions we deem defective. But let us, in doing so, respect the orderly processes of the law. Any other course enthrones tyrants and dooms freedom.” [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change should come via persuasion and education within legal frameworks, not through coercive state power, to avoid tyranny. **In simple terms:** Legal, non‑coercive reform Key Takeaway Lawful persuasion preserves freedom Themes political philosophy civil liberties rule of law non‑violent change institutional reform Mood thoughtful cautious optimistic Type political ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - grassroots campaigns - constitutional reform - civil rights movements - educational initiatives Key Concepts democracy education persuasion legal process Practical Applications - legislative lobbying - public awareness campaigns Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance urgency for reform with respect for legal processes? - What mechanisms ensure persuasion does not become coercion? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Desirable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-desirable-827808/) [Conservatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservatism/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Cultural change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultural-change/) [Defective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defective/) [Desirable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desirable/) [Doom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doom/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Improve Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improve-institutions-827809/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [National Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-power-827810/) [Orderly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orderly/) [Persuasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasion/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Cultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-cultural-740178/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) ## Related quotes > [Any social or cultural change has to be made openly and with people agreeing. You don't get there by just pushing an outsider's point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/any-social-or-cultural-change-has-to-be-made-openly-and-with-people/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [All media work us over completely. They are so pervasive in their personal, political, economic, aesthetic, psychological, moral, ethical, and social consequences that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/all-media-work-us-over-completely-they-are-so-pervasive-in-their/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“Most of us have been deeply shaped by the false notion that in order for people to behave better they need to feel worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-lakshmi-piepzna-samarasinha/most-of-us-have-been-deeply-shaped-by-the-false-notion-that-in-order/) [Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-lakshmi-piepzna-samarasinha/) > [“Racism is the belief that social and cultural differences between groups are inherited and immutable, making some groups inalterably superior to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/racism-is-the-belief-that-social-and-cultural-differences-between/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [Most learning is social, or what I call the cultural DNA. Everyone knows that word of mouth advertising is the best advertising. That's social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-learning-is-social-or-what-i-call-the-cultural-dna-everyone/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [For a country is not merely a piece of earth; it is, above all, a compendium of social, cultural, and historical factors which begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-goytisolo/for-a-country-is-not-merely-a-piece-of-earth-it-is-above-all-a/) [Juan Goytisolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-goytisolo/) > [If you try to put social and cultural development ahead of economic development, it doesn't work. You have to do it all together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aga-khan-iv/if-you-try-to-put-social-and-cultural-development-ahead-of-economic/) [Aga Khan IV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aga-khan-iv/) > [We try to avoid the single-building syndrome. You have to look at the big picture. If you try to put social and cultural development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aga-khan-iv/we-try-to-avoid-the-single-building-syndrome-you-have-to-look-at-the/) [Aga Khan IV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aga-khan-iv/) > [“leaders who understand the social and cultural contexts in which our technologies are deployed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hartley/leaders-who-understand-the-social-and-cultural-contexts-in-which-our/) [Scott Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hartley/) > [A truly global economy, as opposed to the multinational economy of the recent past, will require concessions of national power ... that seemed impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/a-truly-global-economy-as-opposed-to-the-multinational-economy-of-the/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [In every domain of art, a work that corresponds to the need of its day carries a message of social and cultural value. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/in-every-domain-of-art-a-work-that-corresponds-to-the-need-of-its-day/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) > [Americans must place greater emphasis on the more subtle dimensions of national power, such as innovation, education, the balance of force and diplomacy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/americans-must-place-greater-emphasis-on-the-more-subtle-dimensions/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Would food be considered an instrument of national power? ... Is the U.S. prepared to accept food rationing to help people who can't/won't control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/would-food-be-considered-an-instrument-of-national-power-is-the-u-s/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“Language could be used as an instrument of control, a way of establishing hierarchies that suggest one set of people is better or more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crow/language-could-be-used-as-an-instrument-of-control-a-way-of/) [David Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crow/) > [Mormonism is not simply a commitment to a theology or a church practice, but a social-cultural order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-m-mcmurrin/mormonism-is-not-simply-a-commitment-to-a-theology-or-a-church/) [Sterling M. McMurrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-m-mcmurrin/) ## More by Barry Goldwater > [Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to-give-you-everything-you-want/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [To insist on strength ... is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/to-insist-on-strength-is-not-war-mongering-it-is-peace-mongering/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Some programs have been theatrical masterpieces, but all we're seeing is the negative side of nuclear war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/some-programs-have-been-theatrical-masterpieces-but-all-we-re-seeing/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [My mother took us to services at the Episcopal church. Yet she always said that God was not just inside the four walls of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/my-mother-took-us-to-services-at-the-episcopal-church-yet-she-always/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [You don't need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/you-don-t-need-to-be-straight-to-fight-and-die-for-your-country-you/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/and-if-i-should-later-be-attacked-for-neglecting-my-constituents/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Nixon was the most dishonest individual I have ever met in my life. He lied to his wife, his family, his friends, his colleagues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/nixon-was-the-most-dishonest-individual-i-have-ever-met-in-my-life-he/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Forced integration is just as wrong as forced segregation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/forced-integration-is-just-as-wrong-as-forced-segregation/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/religious-factions-will-go-on-imposing-their-will-on-others-unless/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Government should stay the hell out of people's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/government-should-stay-the-hell-out-of-people-s-business/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I think some highly secret government UFO investigations are going on that we don't know about--and probably never will unless the Air Force discloses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-think-some-highly-secret-government-ufo-investigations-are-going-on/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Conservatism, we are told, is out-of-date. This charge is preposterous and we ought to boldly say so. The laws of God, and of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/conservatism-we-are-told-is-out-of-date-this-charge-is-preposterous/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Once upon a time our traditional goal in war and can anyone doubt that we are at war? - was victory. Once upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/once-upon-a-time-our-traditional-goal-in-war-and-can-anyone-doubt/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [ After one of his \[Hubert Humphrey\] long-winded harangues I suggested he had probably been vaccinated with a phonograph needle. He responded by saying that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/after-one-of-his-hubert-humphrey-long-winded-harangues-i-suggested-he/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) [Explore all 133 Barry Goldwater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. 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