--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought society would do the right…" description: "\"I thought society would do the right thing. Now I look around and I think -- society never does the right thing. Sometimes people do the right thing. S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/christina-dodd-9745_civilization_i-thought-society-would-do-the-right-thi_404421.jpg" --- # I thought society would do the right thing. Now I look… ![“I thought society would do the right thing. Now I look around and I think -- society never does the right thing. Sometimes people do the right thing. Sometimes one person makes a difference. But civilization has rules, and I've learned them well -- never be helpless, never be sick, never be poor.” quote by Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/christina-dodd-9745_civilization_i-thought-society-would-do-the-right-thi_404421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/christina-dodd-9745_civilization_i-thought-society-would-do-the-right-thi_404421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/christina-dodd-9745_civilization_i-thought-society-would-do-the-right-thi_404421.jpg) > “I thought society would do the right thing. Now I look around and I think -- society never does the right thing. Sometimes people do the right thing. Sometimes one person makes a difference. But civilization has rules, and I've learned them well -- never be helpless, never be sick, never be poor.” [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society often fails to act justly; individuals can still make positive impacts despite systemic flaws. **In simple terms:** Society is imperfect, but people can help. Key Takeaway Act responsibly despite flaws. Themes society justice individual agency Mood determined hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - activism - community service - policy change Key Concepts systemic failure personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What can you do locally to improve justice? - How do you stay hopeful amid systemic issues? A Different Perspective Changing society alone is unrealistic without collective effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Making a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-difference/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Civilization had too many rules for me, so I did my best to rewrite them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/civilization-had-too-many-rules-for-me-so-i-did-my-best-to-rewrite/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“Each time we face a new experience, we bring with us all past experiences - both good and bad - as well as those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/each-time-we-face-a-new-experience-we-bring-with-us-all-past/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Obviously, the state's responsibility should be to legislate rules for a well-ordered society. It has no right or duty to creep into the bedrooms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/obviously-the-state-s-responsibility-should-be-to-legislate-rules-for/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [The right to ridicule is far more important to society than any right not to be ridiculed because one in my view represents openness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/the-right-to-ridicule-is-far-more-important-to-society-than-any-right/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [There is a very broad theory that society gets the right to hang, as the individual gets the right to defend himself. Suppose she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/there-is-a-very-broad-theory-that-society-gets-the-right-to-hang-as/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [“He asked himself whether human society could have the right to force its members to suffer equally in one case for its own unreasonable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-asked-himself-whether-human-society-could-have-the-right-to-force/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [No member of society has the right to teach any doctrine contrary to what society holds to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-member-of-society-has-the-right-to-teach-any-doctrine-contrary-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If a man speculates on what 'society' should do for the poor, he accepts thereby the collectivist premise that men's lives belong to society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/if-a-man-speculates-on-what-society-should-do-for-the-poor-he-accepts/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Individuals? Or members of society? That's what the right to die is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/individuals-or-members-of-society-that-s-what-the-right-to-die-is/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“In my society, even the right things are wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/in-my-society-even-the-right-things-are-wrong/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [The obligation to earn one's bread by the sweat of one's brow also presumes the right to do so. A society in which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-obligation-to-earn-one-s-bread-by-the-sweat-of-one-s-brow-also/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [I think we left out one of the really important elements contributing to the dynamism of society, and that is the right to privacy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-barnard/i-think-we-left-out-one-of-the-really-important-elements-contributing/) [Chester Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-barnard/) > [I believe that nothing enjoys a higher estate in our society than the right given by the First and Fourteenth Amendments freely to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-murphy/i-believe-that-nothing-enjoys-a-higher-estate-in-our-society-than-the/) [Frank Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-murphy/) > [No society has any right to forget its workers, because they are the real heroes of the society!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/no-society-has-any-right-to-forget-its-workers-because-they-are-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Today, elderly people are discarded when, in reality, they are the seat of wisdom of the society...the right to life means allowing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/today-elderly-people-are-discarded-when-in-reality-they-are-the-seat/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More by Christina Dodd > [“She glanced over her shoulder at him. “So until the wedding ceremony in your chapel, we’ll be chaste?” Her smile flirted and taunted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/she-glanced-over-her-shoulder-at-him-so-until-the-wedding-ceremony-in/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“...the haunted always take refuge in stillness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/the-haunted-always-take-refuge-in-stillness/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [I intend to marry Michael, and squander all his money and run his life, and make sure he never again consorts with wicked women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/i-intend-to-marry-michael-and-squander-all-his-money-and-run-his-life/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“Holding her tight against him, he said, "I am the blood in your veins, the marrow in your bones. You'll never go anywhere without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/holding-her-tight-against-him-he-said-i-am-the-blood-in-your-veins/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“I have never seen an unclad male form in my life, and I haven’t suffered for the lack.” “By an extraordinary coincidence, I haven’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/i-have-never-seen-an-unclad-male-form-in-my-life-and-i-haven-t/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“Ah, Lord Northcliff, how well you look this afternoon!” “Thank you. I feel well indeed.” Taking Amy’s hand, he held it in both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/ah-lord-northcliff-how-well-you-look-this-afternoon-thank-you-i-feel/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [...the pain of the constant, bone-chilling loneliness she'd accustomed herself to. And learned to live with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/the-pain-of-the-constant-bone-chilling-loneliness-she-d-accustomed/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [Ma, I'm just trying to get going on those grandchildren you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/ma-i-m-just-trying-to-get-going-on-those-grandchildren-you-want/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [We're lucky." He slipped his hand around her waist and splayed it in the small of her back. "Most couples have only one first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/we-re-lucky-he-slipped-his-hand-around-her-waist-and-splayed-it-in/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [She wished she hadn't succumbed to irritation. Because she wanted to know about his inner feelings. She always thought people were like pieces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/she-wished-she-hadn-t-succumbed-to-irritation-because-she-wanted-to/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“You know, Guinevere Mary, the kind of woman you could be, and I know it, too. And I won’t be satisfied until you are.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/you-know-guinevere-mary-the-kind-of-woman-you-could-be-and-i-know-it/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“That’s the master bedchamber, remember? You’ve been there collecting my underwear.” “That’s right. You’re the swine who sent me on a fool’s errand when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/that-s-the-master-bedchamber-remember-you-ve-been-there-collecting-my/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“He who lies down with dogs shall rise with fleas”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/he-who-lies-down-with-dogs-shall-rise-with-fleas/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“If Amy had one ounce of romance in her soul, she would be sighing with gratification. Instead, she said acerbically, “All that’s missing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/if-amy-had-one-ounce-of-romance-in-her-soul-she-would-be-sighing-with/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) > [“In the top drawer of my bedside table, there’s a small box. It contains everything we need to make our night pleasurable. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/in-the-top-drawer-of-my-bedside-table-there-s-a-small-box-it-contains/) [Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) [Explore all 69 Christina Dodd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. 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Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. 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