--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We only refer to sapient creatures as…" description: "\"“We only refer to sapient creatures as civilized when their society is willingly self-correcting. That means that any problem or imbalance that arises ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/j-z-colby-27619_civilization_we-only-refer-to-sapient-creatures-as-ci_1111053.jpg" --- # We only refer to sapient creatures as civilized when their… ![“We only refer to sapient creatures as civilized when their society is willingly self-correcting. That means that any problem or imbalance that arises is fixed, and I mean really fixed - not ignored, not hidden, and not passed off to a future generation.” quote by J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/j-z-colby-27619_civilization_we-only-refer-to-sapient-creatures-as-ci_1111053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/j-z-colby-27619_civilization_we-only-refer-to-sapient-creatures-as-ci_1111053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b34/j-z-colby-27619_civilization_we-only-refer-to-sapient-creatures-as-ci_1111053.jpg) > ““We only refer to sapient creatures as civilized when their society is willingly self-correcting. That means that any problem or imbalance that arises is fixed, and I mean really fixed - not ignored, not hidden, and not passed off to a future generation.”” [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A truly civilized society continuously corrects its flaws rather than ignoring them, ensuring lasting stability. **In simple terms:** Civilized societies fix problems, not hide them. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine self‑correction. Themes civilization ethics responsibility Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - government policy - corporate governance - environmental stewardship - education reform Key Concepts self‑regulation long‑term planning Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can enforce true self‑correction? - How do we prevent short‑term fixes from becoming permanent? A Different Perspective Ideal self‑correction is hard to achieve in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilized society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized-society/) [Future generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-generation/) [Nebador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nebador/) ## Related quotes > [“No, I will finish what I started, here, at Glimpa’s Arch. The act belongs to me, the consequence, pleasing or not, belongs to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/no-i-will-finish-what-i-started-here-at-glimpa-s-arch-the-act-belongs/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The sea is very beautiful and gives us many things, but it must be understood and respected, or it will slap you ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-sea-is-very-beautiful-and-gives-us-many-things-but-it-must-be/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“There are a million things out there that can kill you, and about half of them are invisible. If you’re going to stick your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/there-are-a-million-things-out-there-that-can-kill-you-and-about-half/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“If you can’t see the feelings in a donkey, a ship, or a delicate tool, then it’s just as easy to not see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/if-you-can-t-see-the-feelings-in-a-donkey-a-ship-or-a-delicate-tool/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“On a ship, knowing when to be silent is just as important as knowing when to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/on-a-ship-knowing-when-to-be-silent-is-just-as-important-as-knowing/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The universe is so arranged that the power to destroy the climate or the ecosystem of your home planet only comes when you also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-universe-is-so-arranged-that-the-power-to-destroy-the-climate-or/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The universe has no place for creatures who foul their nest and then set out on a journey they cannot survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-universe-has-no-place-for-creatures-who-foul-their-nest-and-then/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“I don't think Tera is capable of working with you by her own choice, no matter how much grass you pull for her, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-don-t-think-tera-is-capable-of-working-with-you-by-her-own-choice/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The world has many places that can make us uncomfortable. Calling them evil, or any other bad name, doesn’t make them go away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-world-has-many-places-that-can-make-us-uncomfortable-calling-them/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“I can’t feel too sorry for them. Every gift has to run out someday. Anyone but a child knows that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-can-t-feel-too-sorry-for-them-every-gift-has-to-run-out-someday/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [I think a lot of things will be self-correcting, even in America. After all, human societies are essentially self-organizing emergent systems. The catch is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-think-a-lot-of-things-will-be-self-correcting-even-in-america-after/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [I remain optimistic that ultimately free speech and a free press where individuals have access to the dialogue will have a self-correcting quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-remain-optimistic-that-ultimately-free-speech-and-a-free-press/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [“An institution can call itself by whatever name it wants, but if it lacks a strong self-correcting mechanism, it is not a scientific institution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/an-institution-can-call-itself-by-whatever-name-it-wants-but-if-it/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“You are alive because your cells are self-correcting chemical factories. Your job is to facilitate that self-correction, not impede it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wahls/you-are-alive-because-your-cells-are-self-correcting-chemical/) Terry Wahls > [The universe is not only self-organizing, it is also self-correcting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-universe-is-not-only-self-organizing-it-is-also-self-correcting/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by J.Z. Colby > [“I can’t feel too sorry for them. Every gift has to run out someday. Anyone but a child knows that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-can-t-feel-too-sorry-for-them-every-gift-has-to-run-out-someday/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The world has many places that can make us uncomfortable. Calling them evil, or any other bad name, doesn’t make them go away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-world-has-many-places-that-can-make-us-uncomfortable-calling-them/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“I don't think Tera is capable of working with you by her own choice, no matter how much grass you pull for her, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-don-t-think-tera-is-capable-of-working-with-you-by-her-own-choice/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The universe has no place for creatures who foul their nest and then set out on a journey they cannot survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-universe-has-no-place-for-creatures-who-foul-their-nest-and-then/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The universe is so arranged that the power to destroy the climate or the ecosystem of your home planet only comes when you also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-universe-is-so-arranged-that-the-power-to-destroy-the-climate-or/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“I'm just a girl trying to learn where to put my feet ... and where not to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-m-just-a-girl-trying-to-learn-where-to-put-my-feet-and-where-not-to/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“I think you will like your life in the Transport Service, but it'll be far from normal. Being a slave ... or a goatherd's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-think-you-will-like-your-life-in-the-transport-service-but-it-ll-be/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“No, this isn't right. I don't think the people doing it know or care about right and wrong. This is all some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/no-this-isn-t-right-i-don-t-think-the-people-doing-it-know-or-care/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“On a ship, knowing when to be silent is just as important as knowing when to speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/on-a-ship-knowing-when-to-be-silent-is-just-as-important-as-knowing/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“If you can’t see the feelings in a donkey, a ship, or a delicate tool, then it’s just as easy to not see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/if-you-can-t-see-the-feelings-in-a-donkey-a-ship-or-a-delicate-tool/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“Personal power is the ability to stand on your own two feet with a smile on your face in the middle of a universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/personal-power-is-the-ability-to-stand-on-your-own-two-feet-with-a/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“There are a million things out there that can kill you, and about half of them are invisible. If you’re going to stick your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/there-are-a-million-things-out-there-that-can-kill-you-and-about-half/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“The sea is very beautiful and gives us many things, but it must be understood and respected, or it will slap you ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/the-sea-is-very-beautiful-and-gives-us-many-things-but-it-must-be/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“It is not the purpose of the universe to get things done as quickly and efficiently as possible. That's a mortal preoccupation, especially strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/it-is-not-the-purpose-of-the-universe-to-get-things-done-as-quickly/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) > [“I come from a place where everyone has great power, by your standards, and they steadfastly refuse to use it for self-aggrandizement ... anywhere ... ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-z-colby/i-come-from-a-place-where-everyone-has-great-power-by-your-standards/) [J.Z. Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) [Explore all 20 J.Z. Colby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-z-colby/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. 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