Economic Quote by Henri Nouwen
“The members - mentally handicapped people who are marginal in society and not useful in an economic sense - welcomed me into their lives. And I was loved, not because of what s doing but because of who I was.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen, 1992
Being accepted for who you are, not what you can produce, shows the deep value of marginalized people.
In simple terms: Love is given for your identity, not utility.
Key Takeaway
Seek relationships beyond economic value.
Themes
inclusion
love
human dignity
Mood
compassionate
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Community building
- volunteering
- social work
- advocacy
Key Concepts
Marginalization
identity
acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor people beyond productivity?
- What biases limit our view of value?
A Different Perspective
Economic usefulness is not the sole measure of worth.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
