Diversity Quote by Eric Hoffer
““There is perhaps some hope to be derived from the fact that in most instances where an attempt to realize an ideal society gave birth to the ugliness and violence of a prolonged active mass movement the experiment was made on a vast scale and with a heterogeneous population. Such was the case in the rise of Christianity and Islam, and in the French, Russian and Nazi revolutions. The promising communal settlements in the small state of Israel and the successful programs of socialization in the small Scandinavian states indicate perhaps that when the attempt to realize an ideal society is undertaken by a small nation with a more or less homogeneous population it can proceed and succeed in an atmosphere which is neither hectic nor coercive.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The True Believer, 1951
Large, diverse societies tend to produce violent movements when trying to create ideal societies, while smaller, more homogeneous nations can achieve social progress peacefully.
In simple terms: Big societies often cause conflict; small ones can succeed peacefully.
Key Takeaway
Focus on building cohesive, smaller communities.
Themes
societal design
idealism
violence
cohesion
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
historical
When to use this quote
- nation building
- policy design
- community development
- social reform
- conflict prevention
Key Concepts
Scale
homogeneity
social experimentation
Questions to Reflect On
- Can small societies maintain success as they grow?
- What safeguards prevent violence in larger societies?
A Different Perspective
Large scale experiments may still succeed under strong institutions.
![“[T]he ideals and desires of the majority define the structure of society as it is; a would-be mass movement that pursues a different path will reliably find itself failing to attract members, while a mass movement that reshapes its message to attract a large audience will inevitably turn into a…” quote by John Michael Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/337/john-michael-greer-28078_architecture_t-he-ideals-and-desires-of-the-majority_1072057.jpg)
