--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tenderness has created the first 'social…" description: "\"Tenderness has created the first 'social order' - that of the mother with her offspring. Through motherliness, woman later makes her great contribution..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/ellen-key-6012_civilization_tenderness-has-created-the-first-social_2871214.png" --- # Tenderness has created the first 'social order' - that of… ![“Tenderness has created the first 'social order' - that of the mother with her offspring. Through motherliness, woman later makes her great contributions to civilization.” quote by Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/ellen-key-6012_civilization_tenderness-has-created-the-first-social_2871214.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/ellen-key-6012_civilization_tenderness-has-created-the-first-social_2871214.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6b/ellen-key-6012_civilization_tenderness-has-created-the-first-social_2871214.png) > “Tenderness has created the first 'social order' - that of the mother with her offspring. Through motherliness, woman later makes her great contributions to civilization.” [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She argues that maternal tenderness establishes the first social order, leading to women’s broader contributions to civilization. **In simple terms:** Motherly tenderness creates early social structures. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of maternal care. Themes family social order gender roles Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - parenting - social policy - women’s history Key Concepts maternal influence civilizational development Questions to Reflect On - How does maternal care shape societies? - What other forces influence social order? A Different Perspective May overlook other societal factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/her/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Motherliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherliness-3036290/) [Offspring Motherliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offspring-motherliness-3928882/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Social order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-order/) [Tenderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness/) [Tenderness Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness-created-3928881/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) ## Related quotes > [Social motherliness has made women's struggle for liberty the loveliest synthesis of egoism and altruism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/social-motherliness-has-made-women-s-struggle-for-liberty-the/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [ \[a\] heavy sense of guilt \[is\] the most potent factor in the whole psychologic picture of motherliness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-deutsch/a-heavy-sense-of-guilt-is-the-most-potent-factor-in-the-whole/) [Helene Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-deutsch/) > [Permanent mass unemployment destroys the moral foundations of the social order. 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