--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But a society in which pluralism is not…" description: "\"“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. Plu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/john-w-gardner-7687_common-good_but-a-society-in-which-pluralism-is-not_3176694.jpg" --- # But a society in which pluralism is not undergirded by… ![“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…” quote by John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/john-w-gardner-7687_common-good_but-a-society-in-which-pluralism-is-not_3176694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/john-w-gardner-7687_common-good_but-a-society-in-which-pluralism-is-not_3176694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/319/john-w-gardner-7687_common-good_but-a-society-in-which-pluralism-is-not_3176694.jpg) > ““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”” [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-good/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mutual trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-trust/) [Pluralism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluralism/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [ Perhaps the most striking feature of the \[nonprofit\] sector is its relative freedom from constraints and its resulting pluralism. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/perhaps-the-most-striking-feature-of-the-nonprofit-sector-is-its/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Americans have always believed that-within the law-all kinds of people should be allowed to take the initiative in all kinds of activities. And out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/americans-have-always-believed-that-within-the-law-all-kinds-of/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [A guy will trust you only if you open up to him. Be honest with your husband. Trust him with everything. Dont keep any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-nwakama/a-guy-will-trust-you-only-if-you-open-up-to-him-be-honest-with-your/) [Anne Nwakama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-nwakama/) > [Every kind of peaceful cooperation among men is primarily based on mutual trust and only secondarily on institutions such as courts of justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/every-kind-of-peaceful-cooperation-among-men-is-primarily-based-on/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Most good relationships are built on mutual trust and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-sutphen/most-good-relationships-are-built-on-mutual-trust-and-respect/) [Mona Sutphen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-sutphen/) > [“... she encouraged them, allowed them to encourage her. She needed them. Because she was still not sure she could do what she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bradley/she-encouraged-them-allowed-them-to-encourage-her-she-needed-them/) [David Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bradley/) > [To win, or to create a great group with winning mentality, you need first stability, but serenity as well. And it is only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattia-binotto/to-win-or-to-create-a-great-group-with-winning-mentality-you-need/) [Mattia Binotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattia-binotto/) > [I wasn't worth a cent two years ago, and now I owe two million dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-wasn-t-worth-a-cent-two-years-ago-and-now-i-owe-two-million-dollars/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“To be successful, you have to be able to relate to people; they have to be satisfied with your personality to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geroge-ross/to-be-successful-you-have-to-be-able-to-relate-to-people-they-have-to/) Geroge Ross > [This is where the block chain is most useful and revolutionary: It helps us to overcome the problem of mutual trust in exchange, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-m-byrne/this-is-where-the-block-chain-is-most-useful-and-revolutionary-it/) [Patrick M. Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-m-byrne/) > [We deem valuable whatever is likely to meet our needs or wishes (individual values) and whatever is likely to help protect or attain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bunge/we-deem-valuable-whatever-is-likely-to-meet-our-needs-or-wishes/) [Mario Bunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bunge/) > [When a horse and rider understand each other, they develop a strong bond of mutual trust and respect. There is no limit to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-anderson/when-a-horse-and-rider-understand-each-other-they-develop-a-strong/) [Clinton Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-anderson/) > [“Project managers operate in a global environment and work on projects characterized by cultural diversity. Team members often have diverse industry experience, know multiple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/project-managers-operate-in-a-global-environment-and-work-on-projects/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What becomes of a man who acquires a beautiful woman, with her "beauty" his sole target? He sabotages himself. He has gained no friend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/what-becomes-of-a-man-who-acquires-a-beautiful-woman-with-her-beauty/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) ## More by John W. Gardner > [“We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-are-continually-faced-with-a-series-of-great-opportunities/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [One man interacting creatively with others can move the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/one-man-interacting-creatively-with-others-can-move-the-world/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [To sensible men, every day is a day of reckoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/to-sensible-men-every-day-is-a-day-of-reckoning/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/all-excellence-involves-discipline-and-tenacity-of-purpose/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Tax reduction has an almost irresistible appeal to the politician, and it is no doubt also gratifying to the citizen. It means more dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/tax-reduction-has-an-almost-irresistible-appeal-to-the-politician-and/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [We get richer and richer in filthier and filthier communities until we reach a final state of affluent misery - crocus on a garbage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/we-get-richer-and-richer-in-filthier-and-filthier-communities-until/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [At home we have lost the capacity to see what is before us. Travel shakes us out of our apathy, and we regain an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/at-home-we-have-lost-the-capacity-to-see-what-is-before-us-travel/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Some people have greatness thrust upon them. Few have excellence thrust upon them ... They achieve it. They do not achieve it unwittingly by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-have-greatness-thrust-upon-them-few-have-excellence/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Leaders come in many forms, with many styles and diverse qualities. There are quiet leaders and leaders one can hear in the next county.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/leaders-come-in-many-forms-with-many-styles-and-diverse-qualities/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursuing his education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-educational-system-is-to-shift-to-the/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [The first and last task of aleader is to keep hope alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/the-first-and-last-task-of-aleader-is-to-keep-hope-alive/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [An excellent plumber is infinitely more admirable than an incompetent philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/an-excellent-plumber-is-infinitely-more-admirable-than-an-incompetent/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure-all your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/there-is-no-learning-without-some-difficulty-and-fumbling-if-you-want/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [All of us celebrate our values in our behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/all-of-us-celebrate-our-values-in-our-behavior/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [Some people seem to believe that for each problem there is a solution readily available - a solution that can be promptly achieved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/some-people-seem-to-believe-that-for-each-problem-there-is-a-solution/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) [Explore all 88 John W. Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) ## More Common good quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Advocacy groups, politicians, and bureaucrats use the government to advance their private good instead of the common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-miller/advocacy-groups-politicians-and-bureaucrats-use-the-government-to/) [Joel Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-miller/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. 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At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [The original Greek word "idiotes" referred to people who might have had a high IQ, but were so self-involved that they focused exclusively on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/the-original-greek-word-idiotes-referred-to-people-who-might-have-had/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [People who reject transcendent authority can no longer persuade one another through rational arguments; everything is reduced to personal opinion. Debates about ideas thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/people-who-reject-transcendent-authority-can-no-longer-persuade-one/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [I am a strong believer in the free market. I am a strong believer in capitalism. But, I am also a strong believer that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-am-a-strong-believer-in-the-free-market-i-am-a-strong-believer-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Leadership: The skill of influencing people to work enthusiastically toward goals identified as being for the common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hunter/leadership-the-skill-of-influencing-people-to-work-enthusiastically/) [James Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hunter/) > [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [When it all boils down, its about embracing each others stories and maybe even finding that synergy to collaborate for the common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-jones/when-it-all-boils-down-its-about-embracing-each-others-stories-and/) [Dhani Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-jones/) > [Even the best weapon is an unhappy tool, hateful to living things. 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