Common good Quote by John W. Gardner
““But a society in which pluralism is not undergirded by some shared values and held together by some measure of mutual trust simply cannot survive. Pluralism that reflects no commitments whatever to the common good is pluralism gone berserk... ..Leaders unwilling to seek mutually workable arrangements within systems to their own are not surviving the long-term interest of their constituents””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Pluralism, 1990s
Societies need shared values and mutual trust to keep diverse groups together; without them, pluralism collapses.
In simple terms: Common values and trust hold diverse societies together.
Key Takeaway
Foster shared values and trust.
Themes
pluralism
trust
shared values
social cohesion
Mood
concerned
optimistic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- government policy
- community building
- interfaith dialogue
- multicultural education
Key Concepts
political theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we build trust across differences?
- What shared values can unite a plural society?
A Different Perspective
Trust is hard to build; shared values may be contested.
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