---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: L]iberalism holds that the resources…"
description: "\"L]iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful change justify an attitude of ultimate opt..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png"
---

#  L\]iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human)…

![“L&#93;iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful change justify an attitude of ultimate optimism” quote by James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png)

> “L\]iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful change justify an attitude of ultimate optimism”

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

## About This Quote

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

Liberalism asserts that abundant divine and human resources justify a hopeful outlook toward meaningful change.

**In simple terms:** Optimism is justified by abundant resources for change.

Key Takeaway

Embrace optimism when resources are plentiful.

Themes

optimism resource abundance social change

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- political activism
- community organizing
- faith-based initiatives

Key Concepts

liberal philosophy theology human potential

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance optimism with realistic assessment?
- When might optimism become complacency?

A Different Perspective

Optimism may overlook systemic constraints and resource inequities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Available](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/available/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Iberalism Holds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iberalism-holds-5546297/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Meaningful Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-change-558797/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Resources Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources-divine-5546298/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Ultimate Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-optimism-2542932/)

## Related quotes

> [I believe that we will see a lot of destruction, but I believe that if we can see the right patterns and draw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/i-believe-that-we-will-see-a-lot-of-destruction-but-i-believe-that-if/)

[Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/)

> [To effect meaningful change, you have to look at who's in the boardrooms, who has the financial control of businesses, and who has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-dubuc/to-effect-meaningful-change-you-have-to-look-at-who-s-in-the/)

[Nancy Dubuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-dubuc/)

> [Many change initiatives are poorly thought out, and rolled out prematurely. Others are genuinely good ideas but the proponents underestimate the amount of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-a-klein/many-change-initiatives-are-poorly-thought-out-and-rolled-out/)

[Gary A. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-a-klein/)

> [I think we can achieve meaningful change, but only if we demand that the institutions themselves change their behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/i-think-we-can-achieve-meaningful-change-but-only-if-we-demand-that/)

[Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/)

> [In order to prepare for meaningful change, we have to look at both sides of the problem. We need to examine the output of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/in-order-to-prepare-for-meaningful-change-we-have-to-look-at-both/)

[Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/)

> [“(I also believe that the most meaningful change, where individuals can triumph over both entropy and evolution as it were, comes when people use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-also-believe-that-the-most-meaningful-change-where-individuals-can/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [Creating deep and meaningful change in this country takes time - years and sometimes decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/creating-deep-and-meaningful-change-in-this-country-takes-time-years/)

[Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/)

> [Unprecedented technological capabilities combined with unlimited human creativity have given us tremendous power to take on intractable problems like poverty, unemployment, disease, and environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/unprecedented-technological-capabilities-combined-with-unlimited/)

[Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/)

> [“Words may inspire, but it is the hands that work diligently to solve problems that truly bring about meaningful change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-johnson-jr/words-may-inspire-but-it-is-the-hands-that-work-diligently-to-solve/)

[Henry Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-johnson-jr/)

> [Together, the WEEE Act and the First Step Act represented two rare examples of Republicans and Democrats coming together to make meaningful change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/together-the-weee-act-and-the-first-step-act-represented-two-rare/)

[Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/)

> [We cannot effect meaningful change if we become complacent, if we become comfortable with our own positions in the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/we-cannot-effect-meaningful-change-if-we-become-complacent-if-we/)

[Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/)

> [“I don’t believe that history holds easy answers or simple lessons, because those answers and lessons are stretched out over thousands—millions—of untold stories. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-latham/i-don-t-believe-that-history-holds-easy-answers-or-simple-lessons/)

[Jennifer Latham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-latham/)

> [Set goals that are achievable. Bring about meaningful change one step at a time. Raising awareness is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-spira/set-goals-that-are-achievable-bring-about-meaningful-change-one-step/)

[Henry Spira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-spira/)

> [We believe strongly that all meaningful change comes from entrepreneurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/we-believe-strongly-that-all-meaningful-change-comes-from/)

[Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/)

> [I don't know if any genuine, meaningful change could ever result from a song. It's kind of like throwing peanuts at a gorilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-don-t-know-if-any-genuine-meaningful-change-could-ever-result-from/)

[Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/)

## More by James Luther Adams

> [An unexamined faith is not worth having, for it can be true only by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/an-unexamined-faith-is-not-worth-having-for-it-can-be-true-only-by/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [We are not a religious tradition with a creed, but a religious movement that has always wedded social justice work to theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/we-are-not-a-religious-tradition-with-a-creed-but-a-religious/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [The faith of a church or of a nation is an adequate faith only when it inspires and enables people to give of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/the-faith-of-a-church-or-of-a-nation-is-an-adequate-faith-only-when/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [Nothing is complete and thus nothing is exempt from criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/nothing-is-complete-and-thus-nothing-is-exempt-from-criticism/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [The free person does not live by an unexamined faith. To do so is to worship an idol whittled out and made into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/the-free-person-does-not-live-by-an-unexamined-faith-to-do-so-is-to/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [Everyone is a theologian, either conscious or unconscious, in the sense that everyone has some conception of the nature of reality, of the demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/everyone-is-a-theologian-either-conscious-or-unconscious-in-the-sense/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [Church is a place where you get to practice what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/church-is-a-place-where-you-get-to-practice-what-it-means-to-be-human/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [Religious liberalism affirms the moral obligation to direct one's effort toward the establishment of a just and \*loving\* community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/religious-liberalism-affirms-the-moral-obligation-to-direct-one-s/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [A good deal of so-called atheism is itself, from my point of view, theologically significant. It is the working of God in history, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/a-good-deal-of-so-called-atheism-is-itself-from-my-point-of-view/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

> [I call that church free which enters into the covenant with the ultimate source of existence. It binds together families and generations, protecting against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/i-call-that-church-free-which-enters-into-the-covenant-with-the/)

[James Luther Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

[Explore all 11 James Luther Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/)

## More Achievement quotes

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

[Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/)

> [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/)

[Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

> [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/)

[Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/)

> [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/)

[David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/)

> [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/)

[Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/)

> [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/)

[Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/)

> [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/)

[Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/)

> [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/)

[Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/)

> [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/)

[Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/)

> [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

[Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "L]iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful change justify an attitude of ultimate optimism",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Luther Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-divine-and-human-that-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achievement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-divine-and-human-that-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/james-luther-adams-39804_achievement_l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-div_1508336.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“L]iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful…” — James Luther Adams",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "James Luther Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-luther-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "L]iberalism holds that the resources (divine...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-divine-and-human-that-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-luther-adams/l-iberalism-holds-that-the-resources-divine-and-human-that-are/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
