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Accepting Quote by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

“In business life, that is, in its material processes, we eagerly accept the new. In social life, in all our social processes, we piously, valiantly, obdurately, maintain the old.” quote by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
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“In business life, that is, in its material processes, we eagerly accept the new. In social life, in all our social processes, we piously, valiantly, obdurately, maintain the old.”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

About This Quote

Source Book: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, 1892

People cling to tradition in social realms while eagerly adopting new methods in business, highlighting a tension between progress and preservation.

In simple terms: Social life resists change; business embraces it.

Key Takeaway

Balance innovation with respect for tradition.

Themes

tradition progress social dynamics business innovation

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

  • corporate strategy meetings
  • community organizing
  • policy reform
  • educational curriculum design

Key Concepts

cultural inertia adaptation institutional resistance

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we honor valuable traditions while fostering necessary change?
  • What mechanisms help integrate innovation into social practices?
A Different Perspective

New ideas may be rejected due to fear of losing identity or power structures.

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