Average Quote by Hilaire Belloc
“Had there been any existent vital and energetic institution left in Society after the Reformation for the use of small property in coordinated form-that is, in combination, so that the average man's holding could be put to useful purpose in company with the holdings of a great number of other men of his own sort, the new evils would not have arisen.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that a lack of cooperative economic institutions after the Reformation prevented small property owners from pooling resources, leading to social .
In simple terms: Cooperative institutions could have mitigated post‑Reformation problems.
Key Takeaway
Collective ownership of small assets can curb societal .
Themes
Economic cooperation
Social stability
Property rights
Historical institutions
Collective action
Wealth distribution
Mood
Reflective
Critical
Hopeful
Type
Historical analysis
Social commentary
When to use this quote
- Rural farming communities
- Urban artisans
- Mutual aid societies
- Modern credit unions
- Community land trusts
Key Concepts
Cooperatives
Smallholder economics
Reformation impact
Social welfare
Practical Applications
- Designing cooperative business models
- Policy reforms to support collective ownership
Questions to Reflect On
- How might modern cooperatives address similar inequities?
- What historical factors limited collective institutions after the Reformation?
![“For no one, in our long decline,So dusty, spiteful and divided,Had quite such pleasant friends as mine,Or loved them half as much as I did. [stanza 3]The library was most inviting:The books upon the crowded shelvesWere mainly of our private writing:We kept a school and taught ourselves. [stanza…” quote by Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/913/hilaire-belloc-2294_book_for-no-one-in-our-long-decline-so-dusty_140002.jpg)
