--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For too long in this society, we have…" description: "\"“For too long in this society, we have celebrated unrestrained individualism over common community. For too long as a nation, we have been lulled by th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/joe-biden-454_greater-good_for-too-long-in-this-society-we-have-cel_2363624.jpg" --- # For too long in this society, we have celebrated… ![“For too long in this society, we have celebrated unrestrained individualism over common community. For too long as a nation, we have been lulled by the anthem of self-interest. For a decade, led by Ronald Reagan, self-aggrandizement has been the full-throated cry of this society: "I've got mine…” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/joe-biden-454_greater-good_for-too-long-in-this-society-we-have-cel_2363624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/joe-biden-454_greater-good_for-too-long-in-this-society-we-have-cel_2363624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8aa/joe-biden-454_greater-good_for-too-long-in-this-society-we-have-cel_2363624.jpg) > ““For too long in this society, we have celebrated unrestrained individualism over common community. For too long as a nation, we have been lulled by the anthem of self-interest. For a decade, led by Ronald Reagan, self-aggrandizement has been the full-throated cry of this society: "I've got mine, so why don't you get yours" and "What's in it for me?”” [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques excessive individualism and calls for community-oriented values **In simple terms:** Society should prioritize collective well‑being over selfishness Key Takeaway Promote community over self‑interest Themes community collectivism politics Mood concerned reflective Type political inspirational When to use this quote - neighborhood initiatives - public policy - volunteering Key Concepts Social contract common good Questions to Reflect On - What incentives encourage community service? - How to reduce self‑interest in politics? A Different Perspective Balancing personal freedom with communal responsibility is complex ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greater good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-good/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individualism/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Self centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centered/) ## Related quotes > [For too long in this society, we have celebrated unrestrained individualism over common community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/for-too-long-in-this-society-we-have-celebrated-unrestrained/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Ronald Reagan was so self-contained and impenetrable that his official biographer was practically driven mad trying to figure him out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/ronald-reagan-was-so-self-contained-and-impenetrable-that-his/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [Effective leaders are willing to use power and authority, but they're doing it in the service of the collective good, as opposed to self-aggrandizement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-tichy/effective-leaders-are-willing-to-use-power-and-authority-but-they-re/) [Noel Tichy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-tichy/) > [I would suggest that folks who have a platform of so-called celebrity, to the extent that they don't use that platform, or if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/i-would-suggest-that-folks-who-have-a-platform-of-so-called-celebrity/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [“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/) > [I guess each of us, at some time, finds one person with whom we are compelled towards absolute honesty, one person whose good opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-cook/i-guess-each-of-us-at-some-time-finds-one-person-with-whom-we-are/) [Glen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-cook/) > [The passion of self-aggrandizement is persistent but plastic; it will never disappear from a vigorous mind, but may become morally higher by attaching itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/the-passion-of-self-aggrandizement-is-persistent-but-plastic-it-will/) [Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/) > [In LA, I mean, here's this place full of desperate and sad people who take their only pleasure from destroying others for the purposes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-donahue/in-la-i-mean-here-s-this-place-full-of-desperate-and-sad-people-who/) [Heather Donahue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-donahue/) > [“States have no goodness. They suppress these villains here and promote those villains there, with no aim but self-aggrandizement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuala-o-faolain/states-have-no-goodness-they-suppress-these-villains-here-and-promote/) [Nuala O'Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuala-o-faolain/) > [ Here in America we have a man \[Donald Trump\] who is a master of a medium that is all about self-aggrandizement and/or cruelty to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-h-winters/here-in-america-we-have-a-man-donald-trump-who-is-a-master-of-a/) [Ben H. Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-h-winters/) > [For Donald, lying was primarily a mode of self-aggrandizement meant to convince other people he was better than he actually was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/for-donald-lying-was-primarily-a-mode-of-self-aggrandizement-meant-to/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [So much of the history of painting is the propaganda of self-aggrandizement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/so-much-of-the-history-of-painting-is-the-propaganda-of-self/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [“Because incentives trigger a primitive, engrained response, they produce a number of unintended consequences. First, they strongly reinforce self-aggrandizement, so much so that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-sanford/because-incentives-trigger-a-primitive-engrained-response-they/) [Carol Sanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-sanford/) > [“It takes just as much energy and delusional self-aggrandizement to maintain the belief that one has insurmountable problems as that one has no problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/it-takes-just-as-much-energy-and-delusional-self-aggrandizement-to/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“Most people correctly identify a person like Jimmy as a raging narcissistic ass-hat. That’s because he’s pretty blatant in his delusionally high self-regard. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/most-people-correctly-identify-a-person-like-jimmy-as-a-raging/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) ## More by Joe Biden > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I always kid the president in different circumstances. Mr. President, a country's never going to be more optimistic than the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-always-kid-the-president-in-different-circumstances-mr-president-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Don't hold against me that I don't own - that I don't own a single stock or bond. Don't hold it - I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/don-t-hold-against-me-that-i-don-t-own-that-i-don-t-own-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“True bravery is when there is very little chance of winning, but you keep fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/true-bravery-is-when-there-is-very-little-chance-of-winning-but-you/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-public-funding-for-abortion-it-imposes-a-view/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I've known and continue to know every one of these major world leaders by their first names, and I have access to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-ve-known-and-continue-to-know-every-one-of-these-major-world/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We are working to deploy a powerful new radar network with American early warning systems,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-are-working-to-deploy-a-powerful-new-radar-network-with-american/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-joking-i-m-joking-best-decision-i-ever-made/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“And don’t any of you, by the way, any of you guys vote Republican. I’m not supposed to say, this isn’t political. …don’t come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/and-don-t-any-of-you-by-the-way-any-of-you-guys-vote-republican-i-m/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We also wanted to change the story - change the approach to the 21st century on energy, on education, on transportation, on infrastructure, generally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-also-wanted-to-change-the-story-change-the-approach-to-the-21st/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The spirit of Thanksgiving rests in our recognizing the blessings in our lives, and as we all take stock, I hope you will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-spirit-of-thanksgiving-rests-in-our-recognizing-the-blessings-in/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The president has a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-president-has-a-big-stick/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) [Explore all 546 Joe Biden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More Greater good quotes > [“If I do not do this thing, then it may go on and on. Nothing of the greater good comes without struggle and sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kent/if-i-do-not-do-this-thing-then-it-may-go-on-and-on-nothing-of-the/) [Kathleen Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kent/) > [All it takes for generosity to flow is awareness. By actively pursuing awareness and knowledge, we can make choices that cause less harm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-weil/all-it-takes-for-generosity-to-flow-is-awareness-by-actively-pursuing/) [Zoe Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-weil/) > [“Because sometimes bad things—downright horrible things in fact—must be done. For the greater good of the Republic. The “greater good” is, after all, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-anspach/because-sometimes-bad-things-downright-horrible-things-in-fact-must/) [Jason Anspach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-anspach/) > [“What good was a personal victory to someone who'd spent her life losing herself for the greater good of everyone else?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/what-good-was-a-personal-victory-to-someone-who-d-spent-her-life/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [ “\[...\] the kind of healer who knows that sometimes one must inflict terrible agony - rebreak a bone, carve off a limb, kill the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/the-kind-of-healer-who-knows-that-sometimes-one-must-inflict-terrible/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [I don't go with ego: If I wanna work with a guy, I'm hitting him up. Because it's for the greater good of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-the-butcher/i-don-t-go-with-ego-if-i-wanna-work-with-a-guy-i-m-hitting-him-up/) [Benny the Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-the-butcher/) > [A good thing which prevents us from enjoying a greater good is in truth an evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/a-good-thing-which-prevents-us-from-enjoying-a-greater-good-is-in/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [Problems tend to be put into their proper perspective the moment we get off SELF, and on PURPOSE. By choosing your purpose in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/problems-tend-to-be-put-into-their-proper-perspective-the-moment-we/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [We need to and must protect privacy. But I think that people will be willing and even eager to share medical information about themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/we-need-to-and-must-protect-privacy-but-i-think-that-people-will-be/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [You can make a good living while serving a greater good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-misner/you-can-make-a-good-living-while-serving-a-greater-good/) [Ivan Misner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-misner/) > [“There's an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that I've been thinking about a lot while writing this essay. In it, Buffy sacrifices her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/there-s-an-episode-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-that-i-ve-been/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“You have behaved in an exemplary manner until now. Even when you could have gained by doing something wrong, you refrained from doing so.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/you-have-behaved-in-an-exemplary-manner-until-now-even-when-you-could/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“For know that this is the command of God; and I believe that no greater good has ever happened in the state than my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-know-that-this-is-the-command-of-god-and-i-believe-that-no/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Liberals genuinely believe that this country is about helping one another out and doing it for the greater good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/liberals-genuinely-believe-that-this-country-is-about-helping-one/) [Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/) > [“One doesn't commit evil actions in the belief that one is acting wrongly. What allows one to commit such acts is the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/una-mccormack/one-doesn-t-commit-evil-actions-in-the-belief-that-one-is-acting/) [Una McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/una-mccormack/) [Browse all 314 Greater good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-good/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For too long in this society, we have celebrated unrestrained individualism over common community. For too long as a nation, we have been lulled by the anthem of self-interest. 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