--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A community is a butcher and a doctor, a…" description: "\"A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town troublemaker. A \"community\" is not a bunch of people united by some grievance. That's just se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png" --- # A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town… ![“A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town troublemaker. A "community" is not a bunch of people united by some grievance. That's just self-righteousness - incredibly dangerous and antidemocratic.” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png) > “A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town troublemaker. A "community" is not a bunch of people united by some grievance. That's just self-righteousness - incredibly dangerous and antidemocratic.” [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communities thrive when members serve diverse roles, not when united by grievance. **In simple terms:** Communities need varied helpers, not shared anger. Key Takeaway Foster service, avoid grievance groups. Themes community service politics social cohesion Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - neighborhood meetings - volunteer projects - local governance - conflict resolution Key Concepts social responsibility collective identity danger of grievance Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage service over grievance? - What roles do we need in our community? A Different Perspective Grievance-driven groups can become exclusionary and oppressive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Grievance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grievance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) [Troublemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troublemaker/) ## Related quotes > [First of all, when you have a doctor who cut the leg to prevent the patient from the gangrene if you have to, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/first-of-all-when-you-have-a-doctor-who-cut-the-leg-to-prevent-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I'm a troublemaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/i-m-a-troublemaker/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [I was a troublemaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-masters/i-was-a-troublemaker/) [Oksana Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-masters/) > [I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-white/i-was-labeled-a-troublemaker-my-mom-an-unfit-mother-and-i-was-not/) [Ryan White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-white/) > [Hey,” Shane said from the other side of the bars. “Trade you cigarettes for a chocolate bar.” Funny,” Eve said. She was almost back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/hey-shane-said-from-the-other-side-of-the-bars-trade-you-cigarettes/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I hate to say anything that may hurt UCLA, but I can't be quiet when I see what the NCAA is doing to Jerry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/i-hate-to-say-anything-that-may-hurt-ucla-but-i-can-t-be-quiet-when-i/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [If you cannot be merciful, at least speak as though you are a sinner. If you are not a peacemaker, at least do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorotheus-of-gaza/if-you-cannot-be-merciful-at-least-speak-as-though-you-are-a-sinner/) [Dorotheus of Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorotheus-of-gaza/) > [I've never kept my mouth shut, especially as my industry is so misogynistic. I've got a reputation as a troublemaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanna-arquette/i-ve-never-kept-my-mouth-shut-especially-as-my-industry-is-so/) [Rosanna Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanna-arquette/) > [An art form requires genius. People of genius are always troublemakers, meaning they start from scratch, demolish accepted norms and rebuild a new world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-langlois/an-art-form-requires-genius-people-of-genius-are-always-troublemakers/) Henri Langlois > [Contrary to what some people may believe, I'm not a troublemaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-alsina/contrary-to-what-some-people-may-believe-i-m-not-a-troublemaker/) [August Alsina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-alsina/) > [I was the troublemaker, always being funny - that's just who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smalls/i-was-the-troublemaker-always-being-funny-that-s-just-who-i-am/) [Joan Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smalls/) > [Anger is the ultimate troublemaker. I feel you can express a strong disapproval or dislike of an object without losing your temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/anger-is-the-ultimate-troublemaker-i-feel-you-can-express-a-strong/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/christians-were-never-meant-to-be-normal-we-ve-always-been-holy/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [The biggest troublemaker youll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-troublemaker-youll-probably-ever-have-to-deal-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Back home I had always been comfortable around people. I was the troublemaker, always being funny - that's just who I am. I'm Latina;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smalls/back-home-i-had-always-been-comfortable-around-people-i-was-the/) [Joan Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smalls/) ## More by Fran Lebowitz > [Why not have your first baby at sixty, when your husband is already dead and your career is over? Then you can really devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/why-not-have-your-first-baby-at-sixty-when-your-husband-is-already/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I've never had the experience of being edited and never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-ve-never-had-the-experience-of-being-edited-and-never-will/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. Wit is judgment, whereas humor invites some sort of response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-think-humor-is-warmer-and-wit-is-colder-wit-is-judgment-whereas/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Communists all seem to wear small caps, a look I consider better suited to tubes of toothpaste than to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/communists-all-seem-to-wear-small-caps-a-look-i-consider-better/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [“lack, or loutish and crass kollective is a program dedicated to the proposition that vulgarity and bad taste are an inalienable right. the lackies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/lack-or-loutish-and-crass-kollective-is-a-program-dedicated-to-the/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery whether you play or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-figure-you-have-the-same-chance-of-winning-the-lottery-whether-you/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [ \[Friendships\] are easy to get out of compared to love affairs, but they are not easy to get out of compared to, say, jail. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/friendships-are-easy-to-get-out-of-compared-to-love-affairs-but-they/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Smoking is, as far as I'm concerned, the entire point of being an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-entire-point-of-being-an-adult/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-this-world-get-a-lawyer-not-a-book/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When it comes to sports I am not particularly interested. Generally speaking, I look upon them as dangerous and tiring activities performed by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-it-comes-to-sports-i-am-not-particularly-interested-generally/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [The first time I ever saw platform shoes in the '70s, I knew they'd been revived from the '40s, and I felt sickened. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-platform-shoes-in-the-70s-i-knew-they-d/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [ I do not think everyone is created equal. In fact, I know they're not. \[The Constitution\] means that everyone should have the same laws… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-do-not-think-everyone-is-created-equal-in-fact-i-know-they-re-not/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When I fly, I'm never afraid the plane is going to crash. But there have often been times when I was afraid it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-fly-i-m-never-afraid-the-plane-is-going-to-crash-but-there/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Smoking is, if not my life, then at least my hobby. I love to smoke. Smoking is fun. Smoking is cool. Smoking is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-if-not-my-life-then-at-least-my-hobby-i-love-to-smoke/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) [Explore all 408 Fran Lebowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## More Bunch quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-light-changed-from-red-to-green-to-yellow-and-back-to-red/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In summer, my Sundays are often taken up with cricket. I play with a bunch of other over-competitive and overenthusiastic guys who I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/in-summer-my-sundays-are-often-taken-up-with-cricket-i-play-with-a/) [Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/) > [There's when a phrase circles in my head in a number of ways for any number of days, weeks, or months, and then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/there-s-when-a-phrase-circles-in-my-head-in-a-number-of-ways-for-any/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [I would say my fraternity was nothing but a bunch of farm boys; we weren't really in the whole fraternity scene, but yeah, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-would-say-my-fraternity-was-nothing-but-a-bunch-of-farm-boys-we/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/in-a-way-we-are-magicians-we-are-alchemists-sorcerers-and-wizards-we/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Rita folded her arms around herself and peered up at me. “If you’d asked me three months ago I’d have said you were hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/rita-folded-her-arms-around-herself-and-peered-up-at-me-if-you-d/) [C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/) > [I always wanted to be in a band with a bunch of dudes who loved Green Day and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-irwin/i-always-wanted-to-be-in-a-band-with-a-bunch-of-dudes-who-loved-green/) [Ashton Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-irwin/) > [No one has it all figured out, especially not the people who are acting like they do and judging you because of it. Pretending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/no-one-has-it-all-figured-out-especially-not-the-people-who-are/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [Through the music I hope to give it an arc that gives it a greater sense of a journey through the set rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotye/through-the-music-i-hope-to-give-it-an-arc-that-gives-it-a-greater/) [Gotye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotye/) > [America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/america-to-me-should-be-shouting-all-the-time-a-bunch-of-shouting/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) Browse all 2,008 Bunch quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town troublemaker. A \"community\" is not a bunch of people united by some grievance. That's just self-righteousness - incredibly dangerous and antidemocratic.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fran Lebowitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a-minister-a-town-troublemaker/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bunch" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a-minister-a-town-troublemaker/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21e/fran-lebowitz-690_bunch_a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a_434175.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town troublemaker. A \"community\" is not a bunch of…” — Fran Lebowitz", "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": "Fran Lebowitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A community is a butcher and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a-minister-a-town-troublemaker/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/a-community-is-a-butcher-and-a-doctor-a-minister-a-town-troublemaker/#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 } } ] } ```