Activity Quote by Edward Everett Hale
“An intelligent class can scarce ever be, as a class, vicious, and never, as a class, indolent. The excited mental activity operates as a counterpoise to the stimulus of sense and appetite.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Intelligent Class, 1885
Intelligent people rarely act collectively vicious or lazy; their active minds balance basic urges, fostering progress.
In simple terms: Intelligent groups stay active and balanced, avoiding vice or laziness.
Key Takeaway
Encourage intellectual engagement to counteract base impulses.
Themes
intellect
morality
balance
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- community projects
- leadership training
Key Concepts
collective behavior
psychology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies keep intellectual classes motivated?
- What structures prevent collective indolence?
A Different Perspective
Even the intelligent can become complacent without stimulus.
![“[I]t is easy to regard the mind and the body as two slaves trained to obey the imperial soul… [I]n this trinity of soul, mind, and body, it is sometimes hard to tell which of the three is at work; and the personality of each of the three parties interferes a good deal with that of each of the…” quote by Edward Everett Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/22e/edward-everett-hale-13883_body_i-t-is-easy-to-regard-the-mind-and-the-b_682029.jpg)
