--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The individual and social instincts,—the…" description: "\"“The individual and social instincts,—the one a most potent factor for individual endeavor, for growth, aspiration, self-realization; the other an equa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png" --- # The individual and social instincts,—the one a most potent… ![“The individual and social instincts,—the one a most potent factor for individual endeavor, for growth, aspiration, self-realization; the other an equally potent factor for mutual helpfulness and social well-being.” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png) > ““The individual and social instincts,—the one a most potent factor for individual endeavor, for growth, aspiration, self-realization; the other an equally potent factor for mutual helpfulness and social well-being.”” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual and social instincts are both powerful forces; one drives personal growth, the other promotes mutual aid and societal well‑being. **In simple terms:** Both personal ambition and community help are essential. Key Takeaway Balance self‑realization with helping others. Themes individualism socialism psychology Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - workplace collaboration - community projects - personal development - social movements Key Concepts instincts motivation collectivism Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you more: personal success or community impact? - How can societies nurture both instincts? A Different Perspective Individual drive can clash with collective needs if not harmonized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts/) ## Related quotes > [Looking to future generations, there is no cause to fear that the social instincts will grow weaker... the social instincts, - the prime principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/looking-to-future-generations-there-is-no-cause-to-fear-that-the/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [The following proposition seems to me in a high degree probable—namely, that any animal whatever, endowed with well-marked social instincts, the parental and filial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-following-proposition-seems-to-me-in-a-high-degree-probable/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“By manifesting creativity from an individual endeavor to a team activity and a collective effort, the horizon of creativity is expanded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/by-manifesting-creativity-from-an-individual-endeavor-to-a-team/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [Success is not success in an individual endeavor. Success is simply to practice the dharma impeccably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/success-is-not-success-in-an-individual-endeavor-success-is-simply-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“There is no conflict between the individual and the social instincts, any more than there is between the heart and the lungs: the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-riggle/there-is-no-conflict-between-the-individual-and-the-social-instincts/) Nick Riggle > [Besides love and sympathy, animals exhibit other qualities connected with the social instincts which in us would be called moral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/besides-love-and-sympathy-animals-exhibit-other-qualities-connected/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Ultimately a highly complex sentiment, having its first origin in the social instincts, largely guided by the approbation of our fellow-men, ruled by reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/ultimately-a-highly-complex-sentiment-having-its-first-origin-in-the/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [“like the social instincts of chimps, those of humans were adapted only for small intimate groups. When the group grew too large, its social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/like-the-social-instincts-of-chimps-those-of-humans-were-adapted-only/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Even the humblest mammal's strong sexual, parental, and social instincts give rise to 'do unto others as yourself' and 'love thy neighbor as thyself'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/even-the-humblest-mammal-s-strong-sexual-parental-and-social/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [As man advances in civilization, and small tribes are united into larger communities, the simplest reason would tell each individual that he ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/as-man-advances-in-civilization-and-small-tribes-are-united-into/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [There are seasons in life. Don't ever let anyone try to deny you the joy of one season because they believe you should stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-clayson/there-are-seasons-in-life-don-t-ever-let-anyone-try-to-deny-you-the/) [Jane Clayson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-clayson/) > [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts and listen to your inner-voice — it's trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-have-permission-to-walk-away-from-anything-that-doesn-t-feel/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Instincts are a really important guide for any artist, but particularly filmmakers because it takes a lot to stay true to your instincts as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yance-ford/instincts-are-a-really-important-guide-for-any-artist-but/) [Yance Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yance-ford/) > [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) ## More by Emma Goldman > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [More pernicious than the power of a dictator is that of a class; the most terrible - the tyranny of a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/more-pernicious-than-the-power-of-a-dictator-is-that-of-a-class-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the definer of all laws, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/love-the-strongest-and-deepest-element-in-all-life-the-harbinger-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The free expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people is the greatest and only safety in a sane society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-free-expression-of-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-a-people-is-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/someone-has-said-that-it-requires-less-mental-effort-to-condemn-than/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The individual and social instincts,—the one a most potent factor for individual endeavor, for growth, aspiration, self-realization; the other an equally potent factor for mutual helpfulness and social well-being.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emma Goldman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-individual-and-social-instincts-the-one-a-most-potent-factor-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-individual-and-social-instincts-the-one-a-most-potent-factor-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/emma-goldman-774_dreams_the-individual-and-social-instincts-the_2999114.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The individual and social instincts,—the one a most potent factor for individual endeavor, for growth…” — Emma Goldman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Emma Goldman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The individual and social instincts,—the one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-individual-and-social-instincts-the-one-a-most-potent-factor-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-individual-and-social-instincts-the-one-a-most-potent-factor-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```