Clarity Quote by Jean Vanier
![“The people with the best sense of what is essential to a community, of what gives and maintains its spirit, are often doing very humble, manual tasks. It is often the poorest person - the one who has a handica[p, is] ill or old - who is the most prophetic. People who carry responsibility must be…” quote by Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08b/jean-vanier-3367_clarity_the-people-with-the-best-sense-of-what-i_303228.jpg)
“The people with the best sense of what is essential to a community, of what gives and maintains its spirit, are often doing very humble, manual tasks. It is often the poorest person - the one who has a handica[p, is] ill or old - who is the most prophetic. People who carry responsibility must be close to them and know what they think, because it is often they who are free enough to see with the greatest clarity the needs, beauty and pain of the community.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The New City: The Next Step in Human Evolution, Jean Vanier, 1995
Those who perform humble, manual work often gain the deepest insight into a community’s true needs and spirit.
In simple terms: Simple tasks reveal community truth.
Key Takeaway
Listen to humble voices.
Themes
community
humility
leadership
empathy
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- nonprofit leadership
- community health
- social work
Key Concepts
social insight
grassroots perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders stay connected to frontline workers?
- What barriers prevent listening to humble voices?
A Different Perspective
Such insight may be overlooked by those in power.
