Culture Quote by Jean De La Bruyère
“The town is divided into various groups, which form so many little states, each with its own laws and customs, its jargon and its jokes. While the association holds and the fashion lasts, they admit nothing well said or well done except by one of themselves, and they are incapable of appeciating anything from another source, to the point of despising those who are not initiated into their mysteries.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Les Caractères by Jean de La Bruyère, 1688
Societies fragment into subgroups with their own rules, language, and humor, often refusing to appreciate outsiders.
In simple terms: People form small groups with unique customs and reject outsiders.
Key Takeaway
Be aware of groupthink and seek broader perspectives.
Themes
society
culture
group dynamics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- workplace
- online communities
- neighborhoods
- political parties
Key Concepts
tribalism
social segmentation
in-group bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we bridge gaps between subgroups?
- What benefits arise from embracing diverse viewpoints?
A Different Perspective
Such division can hinder collaboration and foster prejudice.
![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
