--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Institutions are not pretty. Show me a…" description: "\"“Institutions are not pretty. Show me a pretty government. Healing is wonderful, but the American Medical Association? Learning is wonderful, but unive..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/huston-smith-2415_institutionalized_institutions-are-not-pretty-show-me-a-pr_3031819.png" --- # Institutions are not pretty. Show me a pretty government… ![“Institutions are not pretty. Show me a pretty government. Healing is wonderful, but the American Medical Association? Learning is wonderful, but universities? The same is true for religion... religion is institutionalized spirituality. — Mother Jones November/December 1997.” quote by Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/huston-smith-2415_institutionalized_institutions-are-not-pretty-show-me-a-pr_3031819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/huston-smith-2415_institutionalized_institutions-are-not-pretty-show-me-a-pr_3031819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/huston-smith-2415_institutionalized_institutions-are-not-pretty-show-me-a-pr_3031819.png) > ““Institutions are not pretty. Show me a pretty government. Healing is wonderful, but the American Medical Association? Learning is wonderful, but universities? The same is true for religion... religion is institutionalized spirituality. — Mother Jones November/December 1997.”” [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Institutions are inherently flawed; even revered bodies like medicine and religion suffer from institutional shortcomings. **In simple terms:** Institutions are imperfect and often problematic. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate institutional authority. Themes institutional critique skepticism authority social systems Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy analysis - education reform - healthcare debate Key Concepts political science philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance critique with appreciation? - What reforms can improve institutions? A Different Perspective Institutions can also provide stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Institutionalized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutionalized/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Mother Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-jones/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Institutions are not pretty. Show me a pretty government. Healing is wonderful, but the American Medical Association? Learning is wonderful, but universities? The same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/institutions-are-not-pretty-show-me-a-pretty-government-healing-is/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Holiness, Faith and Religion can never be institutionalized because they are the individual property of every man, they are a part of each mans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/holiness-faith-and-religion-can-never-be-institutionalized-because-2/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Holiness, Faith and Religion can never be institutionalized because they are the individual property of every man, they are a part of each mans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/holiness-faith-and-religion-can-never-be-institutionalized-because/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Religion is nothing but institutionalized mysticism. The catch is, mysticism does not lend itself to institutionalization. The moment we attempt to organize mysticism, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-nothing-but-institutionalized-mysticism-the-catch-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Over the centuries, religion has become institutionalized, and in the process encrusted with elaborate hierarchies, top-heavy bureaucracies, highly specialized roles and reflexive routines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/over-the-centuries-religion-has-become-institutionalized-and-in-the/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [ We started out covering income inequality in the magazine \[Mother Jones\], but that ongoing body of work positioned - and sourced - us well… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-jeffery/we-started-out-covering-income-inequality-in-the-magazine-mother/) [Clara Jeffery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-jeffery/) > [There are still people who essentially live in intellectual silos and either read Mother Jones or watch Fox News, based on their worldview. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-revkin/there-are-still-people-who-essentially-live-in-intellectual-silos-and/) [Andrew Revkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-revkin/) > [“What do you see out there?” I ask. “Pittsburgh,” he replies. Now I laugh. “No, young man. What you see is hell with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/what-do-you-see-out-there-i-ask-pittsburgh-he-replies-now-i-laugh-no/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“To the RKO motion picture camera at her 100th birthday party: “I pray for the day when working men and women are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/to-the-rko-motion-picture-camera-at-her-100th-birthday-party-i-pray/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“Well, honey, it’s capitalism that brings out the meanness and greed,” says I. “Our founding fathers did a decent job of framing our democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/well-honey-it-s-capitalism-that-brings-out-the-meanness-and-greed/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“What the hell’s the matter with you men? Are you cowards as well as stupid? You boys make me sick. I’m done with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/what-the-hell-s-the-matter-with-you-men-are-you-cowards-as-well-as/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [Librarians see themselves as the guardians of the First Amendment. You got a thousand Mother Joneses at the barricades! I love the librarians, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/librarians-see-themselves-as-the-guardians-of-the-first-amendment-you/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [“That’s got to stop,” says I. “The idea of any blood-thirsty pirate (Mexican President Diaz) sitting on a throne and reaching across the border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/that-s-got-to-stop-says-i-the-idea-of-any-blood-thirsty-pirate/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [ Broadly speaking, in the past few years, we've more than doubled the editorial staff \[in Mother Jones\], as part of ramping up daily operations… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-jeffery/broadly-speaking-in-the-past-few-years-we-ve-more-than-doubled-the/) [Clara Jeffery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-jeffery/) ## More by Huston Smith > [“The Transcendent was my morning meal, we had the Eternal at lunch, and I ate a slice of the Infinite at dinner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-transcendent-was-my-morning-meal-we-had-the-eternal-at-lunch-and/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The first koan do not have rational answers. They are techniques devised over the millennia for triggering an actual experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-first-koan-do-not-have-rational-answers-they-are-techniques/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [We all carry it within us: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted, and cannot be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/we-all-carry-it-within-us-supreme-strength-the-fullness-of-wisdom/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-nation-can-assume-that-the-addition-of-the-words-under-god-to-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“Some friends accused me of whoring after the Infinite. Well, what better whoredom is there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/some-friends-accused-me-of-whoring-after-the-infinite-well-what/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Imagine a man besottedly in love: he won't waste time speculating whether other women equally merit his affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/imagine-a-man-besottedly-in-love-he-won-t-waste-time-speculating/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“If my opinion that substance requires a true unity were founded only on a definition I had formulated in opposition to common usage, \*then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/if-my-opinion-that-substance-requires-a-true-unity-were-founded-only/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed-bag-i-see-much-in-it-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Science can prove nothing about God, because God lies outside its province.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/science-can-prove-nothing-about-god-because-god-lies-outside-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [I had assumed that Bush's seemingly inflexible policy to support Sharon was for political reasons of his getting elected. But as to whether he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-had-assumed-that-bush-s-seemingly-inflexible-policy-to-support/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The Buddha is in me, the Buddha is in you. Live up to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-buddha-is-in-me-the-buddha-is-in-you-live-up-to-it/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“How many planes there are, we do not know. The levels of nature that science discriminates give us no clue, for these all pertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/how-many-planes-there-are-we-do-not-know-the-levels-of-nature-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [So always, if we look back, concern for face-to-face morality, and its modern emphasis on justice as well, have historically evolved as religious issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/so-always-if-we-look-back-concern-for-face-to-face-morality-and-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [All -isms end up in schisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/all-isms-end-up-in-schisms/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Most of the book deals with things we already know yet never learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/most-of-the-book-deals-with-things-we-already-know-yet-never-learn/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) [Explore all 167 Huston Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## More Institutionalized quotes > [Totalitarianism is patriotism institutionalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-allen/totalitarianism-is-patriotism-institutionalized/) [Steve Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-allen/) > [Institutionalized, I live my life a product made to crumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/institutionalized-i-live-my-life-a-product-made-to-crumble/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Customary though it may be to write about that institutionalized pastime as though it existed apart from the general environment, my story does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-flood/customary-though-it-may-be-to-write-about-that-institutionalized/) [Curt Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-flood/) > [“Humanity has been institutionalized and we are all the products of commercial and institutional life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/humanity-has-been-institutionalized-and-we-are-all-the-products-of/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“What is a government but an institutionalized method of making sure somebody else does all the work?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/what-is-a-government-but-an-institutionalized-method-of-making-sure/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [That doesn't mean we should be doing it, though. We should always be carving back those things that are comfortable and institutionalized but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-schiff/that-doesn-t-mean-we-should-be-doing-it-though-we-should-always-be/) [Lewis Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-schiff/) > [I don't really have any interest in recording at places that are institutionalized for recording.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/i-don-t-really-have-any-interest-in-recording-at-places-that-are/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [Institutionalized racism is an imaginary enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/institutionalized-racism-is-an-imaginary-enemy/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [We believe that, by the time that we leave office, it will be institutionalized, and these programs will be addressing the needs and curing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-jackson/we-believe-that-by-the-time-that-we-leave-office-it-will-be/) [Alphonso Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-jackson/) > [“Institutionalization is not, however, an irreversible process, despite the fact that institutions, once formed, have a tendency to persist.49 For a variety of historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/institutionalization-is-not-however-an-irreversible-process-despite/) [Peter L. Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-berger/) > [“Institutionalized rejection of difference is an absolute necessity in a profit economy which needs outsiders as surplus people. As members of such an economy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/institutionalized-rejection-of-difference-is-an-absolute-necessity-in/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Institutionalized racism has been with us pre-Obama, and it obviously will be with us post-Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/institutionalized-racism-has-been-with-us-pre-obama-and-it-obviously/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [In America, we no longer have an institutionalized, organized way of calling business to task - of taking them to account for what they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-frank/in-america-we-no-longer-have-an-institutionalized-organized-way-of/) [Thomas Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-frank/) > [These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-walls-are-funny-first-you-hate-em-then-you-get-used-to-em/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only walls that talk, are the white ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-only-walls-that-talk-are-the-white-ones/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) [Browse all 21 Institutionalized quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutionalized/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Institutions are not pretty. Show me a pretty government. Healing is wonderful, but the American Medical Association? Learning is wonderful, but universities? 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