--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Community is woven from gifts, which is…" description: "\"Community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why poor people often have stronger communities than rich people. If you are financially independent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg" --- # Community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why… ![“Community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why poor people often have stronger communities than rich people. If you are financially independent, then you really don't depend on your neighbors for anything. You can just pay someone to do it.” quote by Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg) > “Community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why poor people often have stronger communities than rich people. If you are financially independent, then you really don't depend on your neighbors for anything. You can just pay someone to do it.” [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communities thrive when members rely on each other's gifts, whereas wealth can isolate people from mutual support. **In simple terms:** Giving and receiving gifts builds strong bonds; wealth can create detachment. Key Takeaway Foster mutual aid, not just financial independence. Themes community interdependence wealth social cohesion gift economy Mood reflective thoughtful Type sociological observational When to use this quote - neighborhood projects - local co‑ops - mutual aid networks - shared childcare - community gardens Key Concepts reciprocity social capital dependence isolation Questions to Reflect On - How does financial independence affect your willingness to help others? - What practices can keep rich communities connected? A Different Perspective Wealth may also enable generosity and philanthropy, complicating the claim. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communities Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communities-rich-5707594/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Depend Neighbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depend-neighbors-5707595/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Financially Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financially-independent-698004/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Stronger Communities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger-communities-2624742/) [Woven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woven/) ## Related quotes > [Our Government is investing in stronger communities by supporting the important work of charities by reducing their administrative burden, encouraging charitable giving and allowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sorenson/our-government-is-investing-in-stronger-communities-by-supporting-the/) [Kevin Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sorenson/) > [Every day, I witness innovative technologies being used to not only address social challenges but to build stronger communities - here in the U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tae-yoo/every-day-i-witness-innovative-technologies-being-used-to-not-only/) [Tae Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tae-yoo/) > [Cities like Portland, Seattle, and Long Beach, which have made these investments in their infrastructure, are seeing not only health advantages, but also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sollee/cities-like-portland-seattle-and-long-beach-which-have-made-these/) [Ben Sollee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sollee/) > [“if you’re not financially independent, you will spend an increasing amount of your time and energy worrying about your socioeconomic future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/if-you-re-not-financially-independent-you-will-spend-an-increasing/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [People want to start their own business or become financially independent. But you don't end up a successful entrepreneur unless you find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/people-want-to-start-their-own-business-or-become-financially/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [The desire to be self-supporting and financially independent is a divine desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ponder/the-desire-to-be-self-supporting-and-financially-independent-is-a/) [Catherine Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ponder/) > [Anybody with a reasonable income can become financially independent in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/anybody-with-a-reasonable-income-can-become-financially-independent/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [“When evaluating a new client for degree of independence, I consider four factors: 1. Emotional issues: Does the person have good resources within himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/when-evaluating-a-new-client-for-degree-of-independence-i-consider/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“Be financially independent, be intellectually attractive, be spiritually excellent, be emotionally exclusive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/be-financially-independent-be-intellectually-attractive-be/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [I never had the college experience, so I have raised my girls to be more work-oriented and motivated to be financially independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/i-never-had-the-college-experience-so-i-have-raised-my-girls-to-be/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [For women especially, its important to be financially independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrine-steffans/for-women-especially-its-important-to-be-financially-independent/) [Karrine Steffans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrine-steffans/) > [The reason that so few people are financially independent today is that they place many negative roadblocks in their heads. Becoming wealthy is, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/the-reason-that-so-few-people-are-financially-independent-today-is/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [Part of your heritage in this society is the opportunity to become financially independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/part-of-your-heritage-in-this-society-is-the-opportunity-to-become/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [To be in a position, at my age, where I am financially independent, I can help develop things, I can promote stuff that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/to-be-in-a-position-at-my-age-where-i-am-financially-independent-i/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [To become financially independent you must turn part of your income into capital; turn capital into enterprise; turn enterprise into profit; turn profit into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/to-become-financially-independent-you-must-turn-part-of-your-income/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Charles Eisenstein > [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [The financial crisis we are facing today arises from the fact that there is almost no more social, cultural, natural, and spiritual capital left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-financial-crisis-we-are-facing-today-arises-from-the-fact-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [More than a mere alternative strategy, regenerative agriculture represents a fundamental shift in our culture’s relationship to nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/more-than-a-mere-alternative-strategy-regenerative-agriculture/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Real change doesn't come without crisis. Childbirth doesn't come without crisis. I think that's happening with humanity now. Our growth has generated multiple crises...and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/real-change-doesn-t-come-without-crisis-childbirth-doesn-t-come/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [We sense that ‘normal’ isn’t coming back, that we are being born into a new normal: a new kind of society, a new relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/we-sense-that-normal-isn-t-coming-back-that-we-are-being-born-into-a/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [So much of our politics is stuck in patterns of response that aren't working. When student performance is declining in schools, we implement more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/so-much-of-our-politics-is-stuck-in-patterns-of-response-that-aren-t/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [I'll start with where we are right now. The map that I'll use is this birthing process, this kind of profound transition that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/i-ll-start-with-where-we-are-right-now-the-map-that-i-ll-use-is-this/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [An economist says that essentially more for you is less for me, but the lover knows that more for you is more for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/an-economist-says-that-essentially-more-for-you-is-less-for-me-but/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Joint consumption doesn’t create intimacy,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/joint-consumption-doesn-t-create-intimacy/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [You could conceive spirituality as the study of the immeasurable, of the qualitative. But that's very different from the way we typically use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/you-could-conceive-spirituality-as-the-study-of-the-immeasurable-of/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [“We have bigger houses but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/we-have-bigger-houses-but-smaller-families-more-conveniences-but-less/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [The holistic acupuncturist and the sea turtle rescuer may not be able to explain the feeling, 'We are serving the same thing,' but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-holistic-acupuncturist-and-the-sea-turtle-rescuer-may-not-be-able/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [“Perhaps the deepest indication of our slavery is the monetization of time. It is a phenomenon with roots deeper than our money system, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/perhaps-the-deepest-indication-of-our-slavery-is-the-monetization-of/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [True discipline is really just self-remembering; no forcing or fighting is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/true-discipline-is-really-just-self-remembering-no-forcing-or/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [You can't have community as an add-on to a monetized life. You have to actually need each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/you-can-t-have-community-as-an-add-on-to-a-monetized-life-you-have-to/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) [Explore all 97 Charles Eisenstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [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/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) [Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why poor people often have stronger communities than rich people. If you are financially independent, then you really don't depend on your neighbors for anything. You can just pay someone to do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Eisenstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-ultimately-why-poor-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Community" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-ultimately-why-poor-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/charles-eisenstein-6748_community_community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-u_1535668.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why poor people often have stronger communities than rich…” — Charles Eisenstein", "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": "Charles Eisenstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Community is woven from gifts, which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-ultimately-why-poor-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/community-is-woven-from-gifts-which-is-ultimately-why-poor-people/#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 } } ] } ```