Ants Quote by George Santayana
“The family is an early expedient and in many ways irrational. If the race had developed a special sexless class to be nurses, pedagogues, and slaves, like the workers among ants and bees, then the family would have been unnecessary. Such a division of labor would doubtless have involved evils of its own, but it would have obviated some drags and vexations proper to the family.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Life of Reason, 1905
The family is an inefficient, irrational institution; a sexless labor class could replace it, though that would bring its own problems.
In simple terms: Family is irrational; a gender‑neutral worker class could replace it.
Key Takeaway
Question the necessity of traditional family roles.
Themes
family
social structure
gender
sociology
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- social policy
- gender studies
- family counseling
Key Concepts
sociology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What functions does the family truly serve?
- Could a genderless class improve society?
A Different Perspective
Such a class could create new injustices.
