---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men cannot conceive of a state of things…"
description: "\"Men cannot conceive of a state of things so fair that it cannot be realized.\" — Henry David Thoreau"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/henry-david-thoreau-20_fair_men-cannot-conceive-of-a-state-of-things_639385.jpg"
---

#  Men cannot conceive of a state of things so fair that it…

![“Men cannot conceive of a state of things so fair that it cannot be realized.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/henry-david-thoreau-20_fair_men-cannot-conceive-of-a-state-of-things_639385.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/henry-david-thoreau-20_fair_men-cannot-conceive-of-a-state-of-things_639385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/henry-david-thoreau-20_fair_men-cannot-conceive-of-a-state-of-things_639385.jpg)

> “Men cannot conceive of a state of things so fair that it cannot be realized.”

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Optimism that a perfectly just society is achievable if people truly strive for fairness.

**In simple terms:** Belief in a realizable fair world.

Key Takeaway

Work toward fairness in society.

Themes

justice optimism society

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- community activism
- education reform

Key Concepts

political philosophy idealism social reform

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to promote fairness?
- Is a perfectly fair society realistic?

A Different Perspective

Idealistic view may ignore systemic barriers.

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[Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/)

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> [If I am treated fairly, I like to do things in a fair manner. That is the way I have been all my career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-hill/if-i-am-treated-fairly-i-like-to-do-things-in-a-fair-manner-that-is/)

[Damon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-hill/)

> [“Girls my age never use the word “fair”. Ordinary girls as young as I am are basically indifferent to whether things are fair or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/girls-my-age-never-use-the-word-fair-ordinary-girls-as-young-as-i-am/)

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[Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/)

> [I try to approach things in a fair-minded way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-allred/i-try-to-approach-things-in-a-fair-minded-way/)

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[Stephen Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jackson/)

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[Steffan Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steffan-piper/)

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[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More by Henry David Thoreau

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