--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civic participants don't aim to make life…" description: "\"Civic participants don't aim to make life better merely for members of the group. They want to improve even the lives of people who never participate....." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/clay-shirky-3364_aim_civic-participants-don-t-aim-to-make-lif_389489.png" --- # Civic participants don't aim to make life better merely… ![“Civic participants don't aim to make life better merely for members of the group. They want to improve even the lives of people who never participate...” quote by Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/clay-shirky-3364_aim_civic-participants-don-t-aim-to-make-lif_389489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/clay-shirky-3364_aim_civic-participants-don-t-aim-to-make-lif_389489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dba/clay-shirky-3364_aim_civic-participants-don-t-aim-to-make-lif_389489.png) > “Civic participants don't aim to make life better merely for members of the group. They want to improve even the lives of people who never participate...” [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civic engagement aims to improve society for everyone, not just its members. **In simple terms:** Civic work benefits all, not just insiders. Key Takeaway Focus on inclusive impact. Themes civic participation social good inclusivity Mood idealistic determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - non‑profits - government programs Key Concepts public policy community building Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure broader societal impact? - What motivates people to help non‑participants? A Different Perspective May overlook individual needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civic/) [Civics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civics/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [The whole, 'Is the Internet a good thing or a bad thing'? We're done with that. It's just a thing. How to maximise its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/the-whole-is-the-internet-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing-we-re-done-with/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [I believe Britishness is defined not on ethnic and exclusive grounds but through shared values; our history of tolerance, openness and internationalism; and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/i-believe-britishness-is-defined-not-on-ethnic-and-exclusive-grounds/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [I believe an invitation from the Commission on Presidential Debates is similar to a draft notice - a civic responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lehrer/i-believe-an-invitation-from-the-commission-on-presidential-debates/) [Jim Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lehrer/) > [I've rarely kept my distance from kind of - I don't know if we can call it politics, but kind of, civic engagement and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-ve-rarely-kept-my-distance-from-kind-of-i-don-t-know-if-we-can-call/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [There is this absurd assumption that the revitalisation of the public sphere is always a good thing. I think people tend to confuse 'civic'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/there-is-this-absurd-assumption-that-the-revitalisation-of-the-public/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [I'm a civic busybody and I've been blessed with an active career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-takei/i-m-a-civic-busybody-and-i-ve-been-blessed-with-an-active-career/) [George Takei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-takei/) > [Marriage is a civic matter. It is really not, together with all its circumstances, the business of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/marriage-is-a-civic-matter-it-is-really-not-together-with-all-its/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Religiosity turns out to be the best indicator of civic involvement: it's more accurate than education, age, income, gender or race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/religiosity-turns-out-to-be-the-best-indicator-of-civic-involvement/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [I'd hate to imply that it's your civic duty to see The House I Live In, but guess what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burr/i-d-hate-to-imply-that-it-s-your-civic-duty-to-see-the-house-i-live/) [Ty Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burr/) > [Theres something unique about the United States, a sense of individual rights and freedoms, and a sense of social and civic responsibility that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hickenlooper/theres-something-unique-about-the-united-states-a-sense-of-individual/) [George Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hickenlooper/) > [As the humanities and liberal arts are downsized, privatized, and commodified, higher education finds itself caught in the paradox of claiming to invest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/as-the-humanities-and-liberal-arts-are-downsized-privatized-and/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [One must always be civic-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroo-onoda/one-must-always-be-civic-minded/) [Hiroo Onoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroo-onoda/) > [The Civic University operates on a global scale but uses its location to form its identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goddard/the-civic-university-operates-on-a-global-scale-but-uses-its-location/) [John Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goddard/) > [What's similar between Britain and America is the lack of good-quality civic buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/what-s-similar-between-britain-and-america-is-the-lack-of-good/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [In her religious role, the Queen is head of the Church of England, but in her civic role she cares for all her subjects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/in-her-religious-role-the-queen-is-head-of-the-church-of-england-but/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) ## More by Clay Shirky > [ “\[N\]ew technology enables new kinds of group-forming.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/n-ew-technology-enables-new-kinds-of-group-forming/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [To have a discussion about the plusses and minuses of various forms of group action, though, is going to require discussing the current tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/to-have-a-discussion-about-the-plusses-and-minuses-of-various-forms/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“Mass amateurization of publishing makes mass amateurization of filtering a forced move.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/mass-amateurization-of-publishing-makes-mass-amateurization-of/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“Information sharing produces shared awareness among the participants, and collaborative production relies on shared creation, but collective action creates shared responsibility, by tying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/information-sharing-produces-shared-awareness-among-the-participants/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [More interesting than thinking about what's possible in 10 years is thinking what's possible now but that no one has built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/more-interesting-than-thinking-about-what-s-possible-in-10-years-is/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“Digital networks are increasing the fluidity of all media. The old choice between one-way public media (like books and movies) and two-way private media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/digital-networks-are-increasing-the-fluidity-of-all-media-the-old/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Even with the sacred printing press, we got erotic novels 150 years before we got scientific journals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/even-with-the-sacred-printing-press-we-got-erotic-novels-150-years/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Tools get socially interesting after they're no longer technologically interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/tools-get-socially-interesting-after-they-re-no-longer/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Carpooling is important for urban density, air pollution and other reasons, but carpooling is not the kind of thing that actually changes the energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/carpooling-is-important-for-urban-density-air-pollution-and-other/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [If what you're doing is valuable for people, they will find a way to pay you to keep doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/if-what-you-re-doing-is-valuable-for-people-they-will-find-a-way-to/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Multi-taskers often think they are like gym rats, bulking up their ability to juggle tasks, when in fact they are like alcoholics, degrading their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/multi-taskers-often-think-they-are-like-gym-rats-bulking-up-their/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [I would not hesitate to say I was addicted to the Internet in the first two years. It can be addictive, and things not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/i-would-not-hesitate-to-say-i-was-addicted-to-the-internet-in-the/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Bureaucracies temporarily suspend the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In a bureaucracy, it's easier to make a process more complex than to make it simpler,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/bureaucracies-temporarily-suspend-the-second-law-of-thermodynamics-in/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [The more ideas there are in circulation, the more ideas there are for any individual to disagree with. More media always means more arguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/the-more-ideas-there-are-in-circulation-the-more-ideas-there-are-for/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Society is not just the product of its individual members; it is also the product of its constituent groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/society-is-not-just-the-product-of-its-individual-members-it-is-also/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) [Explore all 132 Clay Shirky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Civic participants don't aim to make life better merely for members of the group. 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