--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people think they are in community…" description: "\"Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/david-spangler-20154_commitment_some-people-think-they-are-in-community_1915082.png" --- # Some people think they are in community, but they are only… ![“Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other.” quote by David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/david-spangler-20154_commitment_some-people-think-they-are-in-community_1915082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/david-spangler-20154_commitment_some-people-think-they-are-in-community_1915082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/david-spangler-20154_commitment_some-people-think-they-are-in-community_1915082.png) > “Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other.” [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True community goes beyond physical closeness; it needs deliberate commitment, openness, and willingness to truly know others. **In simple terms:** Community needs commitment, not just proximity. Key Takeaway Invest in genuine connections. Themes community commitment openness relationships Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team building - neighborhood groups - online forums - family gatherings Key Concepts social bonds psychological safety empathy Questions to Reflect On - How can you move from proximity to true community? - What does openness look like in your relationships? A Different Perspective Proximity can feel like community, but depth requires effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Openness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Proximity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proximity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [“Communities are not built of friends, or of groups of people with similar styles and tastes, or even of people who like and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-goldsmith/communities-are-not-built-of-friends-or-of-groups-of-people-with/) Suzanne Goldsmith > [When I was younger, me and my dad used to do different things. I don't think I would call it community service. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-lavine/when-i-was-younger-me-and-my-dad-used-to-do-different-things-i-don-t/) [Zach LaVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-lavine/) > [All too often we think of community in terms of being with folks like ourselves: the same class, same race, same ethnicity, same social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/all-too-often-we-think-of-community-in-terms-of-being-with-folks-like/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I think 'community,' in the sense in which politicians use, it is largely a cant term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/i-think-community-in-the-sense-in-which-politicians-use-it-is-largely/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [When we think of community, we think of some sort of nebulous, faraway group of people rather than the men and the women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/when-we-think-of-community-we-think-of-some-sort-of-nebulous-faraway/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [The one thing in most communities, the staple is the basketball court. And when that looks good, I think the community feels good about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-one-thing-in-most-communities-the-staple-is-the-basketball-court/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [My family life and my ideals, my commitment to the community and to other people - all people - has been improved. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-braugher/my-family-life-and-my-ideals-my-commitment-to-the-community-and-to/) [Andre Braugher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-braugher/) > [I can't think of a community that couldn't benefit from communal thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-tosi/i-can-t-think-of-a-community-that-couldn-t-benefit-from-communal/) [Christina Tosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-tosi/) > [I think community and doing good are the two best motivators. Find a way to do both at once and it'll get you through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/i-think-community-and-doing-good-are-the-two-best-motivators-find-a/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [I think community is a shared history, it's a shared experience. It's not always agreement. In fact, I think that often it isn't. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-think-community-is-a-shared-history-it-s-a-shared-experience-it-s/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [I think the more you can kind of decrease yourself and kind of increase other people's stories and give them the light, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-think-the-more-you-can-kind-of-decrease-yourself-and-kind-of/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I think the community that you're in really can define your ability to be at peace with your circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-think-the-community-that-you-re-in-really-can-define-your-ability/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [I don't think of community as being a romantic notion. I think it's as vital as air and water, and so I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-brown/i-don-t-think-of-community-as-being-a-romantic-notion-i-think-it-s-as/) [Greg Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-brown/) > [I just look back at my time in college and think about how much my community activism and my work in neighborhoods really informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-just-look-back-at-my-time-in-college-and-think-about-how-much-my/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [People are longing to rediscover true community. We have had enough of loneliness, independence and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/people-are-longing-to-rediscover-true-community-we-have-had-enough-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) ## More by David Spangler > [I think we each have a personal sweet spot as well. It's the state of mind in which we experience the most joy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/i-think-we-each-have-a-personal-sweet-spot-as-well-it-s-the-state-of/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [Manifestation is an act of trust. It is the soul pouring itself out into its world, like a fisherman casting a net to gather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/manifestation-is-an-act-of-trust-it-is-the-soul-pouring-itself-out/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [The earth community, the Life Community, is not the property of any one religion or group or part of the world; it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/the-earth-community-the-life-community-is-not-the-property-of-any-one/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [It is no good hearing an inner voice or getting an inner prompting if you do not immediately act on that inner prompting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/it-is-no-good-hearing-an-inner-voice-or-getting-an-inner-prompting-if/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [The old will disappear. Human level consciousness by itself can no longer resolve the complexities it has created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/the-old-will-disappear-human-level-consciousness-by-itself-can-no/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [At the heart of world time is the momentum of history. At the heart of personal time is the mystery and wonder of individuality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/at-the-heart-of-world-time-is-the-momentum-of-history-at-the-heart-of/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [The only successful manifestation is one which brings about a change or growth in consciousness; that is, it has manifested God, or revealed him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/the-only-successful-manifestation-is-one-which-brings-about-a-change/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [The starting point for creativity is silence... the creative soil of silence, where can be found the seed-states of all things...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/the-starting-point-for-creativity-is-silence-the-creative-soil-of/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [Love really is the answer to human problems: love of oneself, love of others, love of where one is, love of what one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/love-really-is-the-answer-to-human-problems-love-of-oneself-love-of/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [The old must pass away. It has served its purpose in the cycles of evolution and must now make way for a new, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/the-old-must-pass-away-it-has-served-its-purpose-in-the-cycles-of/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [Giving thanks is a key that opens a door to greater connectedness and greater participation in the life of the world. It is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/giving-thanks-is-a-key-that-opens-a-door-to-greater-connectedness-and/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [These are the times for which we were born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/these-are-the-times-for-which-we-were-born/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [Not everyone knows how to be alone with others, how to share solitude. We have to help each other to understand how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/not-everyone-knows-how-to-be-alone-with-others-how-to-share-solitude/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [No one wishes for crisis, but when crises come, they can call forth our best impulses, those of compassion, courage, creativity, and community. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/no-one-wishes-for-crisis-but-when-crises-come-they-can-call-forth-our/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) > [We must see ourselves as co-manifestors -- partners in manifestation -- all engaged in the primal act of unfoldment and emergence. Each act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spangler/we-must-see-ourselves-as-co-manifestors-partners-in-manifestation-all/) [David Spangler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) [Explore all 31 David Spangler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spangler/) ## More Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. 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