Family Quote by Clifford D. Simak
““The need of one human being for the approval of his fellow humans, the need for a certain cult of fellowship - a psychological, almost physiological need for approval of one's thought and action. A force that kept men from going off at unsocial tangents, a force that made for social security and human solidarity, for the working together of the human family. Men died for that approval, sacrificed for that approval, lived lives they loathed for that approval. For without it man was on his own, an outcast, an animal that had been driven from the pack. It had led to terrible things, of course - to mob psychology, to racial persecution, to mass atrocities in the name of patriotism or religion. But likewise it had been the sizing that held the race together, the thing that from the very start had made human society possible. And Joe didn't have it. Joe didn't give a damn. He didn't care what anyone thought of him. He didn't care whether anyone approved or not.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Machine Stops”, 1948
Human beings crave social approval, which both unites societies and can lead to destructive conformity.
In simple terms: People need approval, which can unite or harm.
Key Takeaway
Balance personal integrity with social connection.
Themes
social cohesion
approval
conformity
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- workplace culture
- political movements
- online communities
Key Concepts
psychology
group dynamics
ethical tension
Questions to Reflect On
- What costs arise when you seek approval?
- When does solidarity become oppression?
A Different Perspective
Excessive reliance on approval can suppress individuality.
