Community Quote by John Dewey
“Such words as "society" and "community" are likely to be misleading, for they have a tendency to make us think there is a single thing corresponding to the single word.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Concept of Social Organization", 1908
He warns that terms like “society” and “community” can oversimplify complex realities.
In simple terms: Words can mislead by suggesting single entities.
Question assumptions about collective terms.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- community planning
- academic research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden complexities do such words mask?
- How can we talk about groups more accurately?
These labels may ignore diversity within groups.