--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Social engaged intellectuals must accept…" description: "\"Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality as they found it and shape it toward positive social goals, not stand aside in self-righteous isolatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png" --- # Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality as they… ![“Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality as they found it and shape it toward positive social goals, not stand aside in self-righteous isolation.” quote by John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png) > “Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality as they found it and shape it toward positive social goals, not stand aside in self-righteous isolation.” [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. Intellectuals should confront the world as it is and work to improve it, rather than withdraw in moral superiority. **In simple terms:** Engage reality and act for social good. Key Takeaway Act, don’t isolate. Themes social responsibility engagement activism Mood determined optimistic Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - education reform - public discourse Key Concepts democratic theory ethical praxis Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance critical analysis with constructive action? - What social goals can you influence today? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with practical constraints and political opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-reality/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged/) [Engaged Intellectuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged-intellectuals-6097202/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectuals/) [Intellectuals Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectuals-accept-6097201/) [Isolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/isolation/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteous/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-engaged-6097203/) ## Related quotes > [“Never allow dogmatic interpretations of Karma to keep you from defending what is right or just. You must accept the reality that on occasion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/never-allow-dogmatic-interpretations-of-karma-to-keep-you-from/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [I can't accept the reality that you're gone. That I won't hear your voice again. That I won't see your smile. I miss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-accept-the-reality-that-you-re-gone-that-i-won-t-hear-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Disappointment is just the Distance between Expectation & Reality. So either Expect less & Accept the Reality OR Expect a lot & Turn into a Reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/disappointment-is-just-the-distance-between-expectation-reality-so/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Days will pass, and you’ll abandon things you were addicted to, and leave someone, and cancel a dream, and finally, accept a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nizar-qabbani/days-will-pass-and-you-ll-abandon-things-you-were-addicted-to-and/) [Nizar Qabbani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nizar-qabbani/) > [We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-accept-the-reality-of-the-world-with-which-we-are-presented/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Suffering is basically the mind's refusal to accept reality as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-thomas/suffering-is-basically-the-mind-s-refusal-to-accept-reality-as-it-is/) [Marcus Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-thomas/) > [“The Buddha's original teaching is essentially a matter of four points -- the Four Noble Truths: 1. Anguish is everywhere. 2. We desire permanent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aitken/the-buddha-s-original-teaching-is-essentially-a-matter-of-four-points/) [Robert Aitken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aitken/) > [“She understood very clearly why people go mad. Sometimes it is the only way to survive the unbearable when all other flight has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-perry/she-understood-very-clearly-why-people-go-mad-sometimes-it-is-the/) [anne perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-perry/) > [“you have to accept this reality as the madhouse walls bulge break and the terrified insane flood our ugly streets. you have to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/you-have-to-accept-this-reality-as-the-madhouse-walls-bulge-break-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Why does it seem easier for us to accept reality when it is within the confinement of the animal kingdom yet so hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aysha-taryam/why-does-it-seem-easier-for-us-to-accept-reality-when-it-is-within/) [Aysha Taryam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aysha-taryam/) > [Pretending is not easy, Just accept the reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimenez-cherry-belle/pretending-is-not-easy-just-accept-the-reality/) [Jimenez Cherry Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimenez-cherry-belle/) > [You do not have to love what is going on in your life, but you must accept that it, whatever it is, is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-do-not-have-to-love-what-is-going-on-in-your-life-but-you-must/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“What is childlike humility? It’s not the lack of intelligence, but the lack of guile. The lack of an agenda. It’s that precious, fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-burpo/what-is-childlike-humility-it-s-not-the-lack-of-intelligence-but-the/) [Todd Burpo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-burpo/) > [“The only way to achieve a dream worth dreaming is to accept the reality that each victory that we experience along the way will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-only-way-to-achieve-a-dream-worth-dreaming-is-to-accept-the/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [For those in love with an illusion often refuse to accept reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanal-edamaruku/for-those-in-love-with-an-illusion-often-refuse-to-accept-reality/) [Sanal Edamaruku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanal-edamaruku/) ## More by John Dewey > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“Empirically, things are poignant, tragic, beautiful, humorous, settled, disturbed, comfortable, annoying, barren, harsh, consoling, splendid, fearful; are such immediately and in their own right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/empirically-things-are-poignant-tragic-beautiful-humorous-settled/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [A tribe, let us say, is warlike. The successes for which it strives, the achievements upon which it sets store, are connected with fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-tribe-let-us-say-is-warlike-the-successes-for-which-it-strives-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The phrase "think for one's self" is a pleonasm. Unless one does it for one's self, it isn't thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-phrase-think-for-one-s-self-is-a-pleonasm-unless-one-does-it-for/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Doctrine that eliminates or even obscures the function of choice of values and enlistment of desires and emotions in behalf of those chosen weakens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/doctrine-that-eliminates-or-even-obscures-the-function-of-choice-of/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Men live in a community in virtue of the things which they have in common; and communication is the way in which they come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/men-live-in-a-community-in-virtue-of-the-things-which-they-have-in/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [We can have facts without thinking but we cannot have thinking without facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/we-can-have-facts-without-thinking-but-we-cannot-have-thinking/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [But progress in knowledge has made us aware of the superficiality of Plato's lumping of individuals and their original powers into a few sharply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/but-progress-in-knowledge-has-made-us-aware-of-the-superficiality-of/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from the fact that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far-as-more-than-alleged-spring/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“When the organization called soul is free, moving and operative, initial as well as terminal, it is spirit. Qualities are both static, substantial, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/when-the-organization-called-soul-is-free-moving-and-operative/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Since in reality there is nothing to which growth is relative save more growth, there is nothing to which education is subordinate save more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/since-in-reality-there-is-nothing-to-which-growth-is-relative-save/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Creative thinking will improve as we relate the new fact to the old and all facts to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/creative-thinking-will-improve-as-we-relate-the-new-fact-to-the-old/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) [Explore all 486 John Dewey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality as they found it and shape it toward positive social goals, not stand aside in self-righteous isolation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dewey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept-reality-as-they-found-it-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept-reality-as-they-found-it-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/john-dewey-545_accepting_social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept_794906.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality as they found it and shape it toward positive social goals…” — John Dewey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Dewey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Social engaged intellectuals must accept reality...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept-reality-as-they-found-it-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/social-engaged-intellectuals-must-accept-reality-as-they-found-it-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```