--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the members who compose a society…" description: "\"If the members who compose a society lived on continuously, they might educate the new-born members, but it would be a task directed by personal intere..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/john-dewey-545_born_if-the-members-who-compose-a-society-liv_2420221.png" --- # If the members who compose a society lived on… ![“If the members who compose a society lived on continuously, they might educate the new-born members, but it would be a task directed by personal interest rather than social need. Now it is a work of necessity.” quote by John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/john-dewey-545_born_if-the-members-who-compose-a-society-liv_2420221.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/john-dewey-545_born_if-the-members-who-compose-a-society-liv_2420221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a1/john-dewey-545_born_if-the-members-who-compose-a-society-liv_2420221.png) > “If the members who compose a society lived on continuously, they might educate the new-born members, but it would be a task directed by personal interest rather than social need. Now it is a work of necessity.” [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education must serve societal needs, not just individual interests, shifting from optional to essential. **In simple terms:** Education should meet social needs, not just personal interests. Key Takeaway Prioritize collective over personal goals. Themes education society needs collective responsibility social purpose Mood thoughtful critical inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - school curricula - community programs - public policy - social services Key Concepts democratic education public good social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal interests with societal needs? - What mechanisms ensure education remains socially relevant? A Different Perspective May overlook individual creativity and autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Personal interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-interest/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [What, in the name of common-sense, had I to do with any better society than I had always lived in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-in-the-name-of-common-sense-had-i-to-do-with-any-better-society/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Our most fundamental social need, it turns out, to my amazement, is love. Now, I'm not a hippie-dippie whatever. 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They need their pack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-larbalestier/wolves-are-social-they-need-their-pack/) [Justine Larbalestier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-larbalestier/) > [A society which makes provision for participation in its good of all its members on equal terms and which secures flexible readjustment of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-society-which-makes-provision-for-participation-in-its-good-of-all/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Plato defined a slave as one who accepts from another the purposes which control his conduct. This condition obtains even where there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/plato-defined-a-slave-as-one-who-accepts-from-another-the-purposes/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In order to have a large number of values in common, all the members of the group must have an equable opportunity, to receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/in-order-to-have-a-large-number-of-values-in-common-all-the-members/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [We never educate directly, but indirectly by means of the environment. 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