---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To require conformity in the appreciation…"
description: "\"To require conformity in the appreciation of sentiments or the interpretation of language, or uniformity of thought, feeling, or action, is a fundament..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg"
---

#  To require conformity in the appreciation of sentiments or…

![“To require conformity in the appreciation of sentiments or the interpretation of language, or uniformity of thought, feeling, or action, is a fundamental error in human legislation -- a madness which would be only equaled by requiring all men to possess the same countenance, the same voice or the…” quote by Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg)

> “To require conformity in the appreciation of sentiments or the interpretation of language, or uniformity of thought, feeling, or action, is a fundamental error in human legislation -- a madness which would be only equaled by requiring all men to possess the same countenance, the same voice or the same stature.”

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Forcing uniform thought or expression is a grave mistake, akin to demanding identical appearance or voice.

**In simple terms:** Mandating sameness in thought is a serious error.

Key Takeaway

Value diverse perspectives.

Themes

conformity legislation diversity

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- education
- media
- workplace culture

Key Concepts

political theory ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the risks of enforcing uniformity?
- When might consensus be beneficial?

A Different Perspective

Uniformity can sometimes aid coordination, but at the cost of individuality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Collectivism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivism/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Conformity Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity-appreciation-2770967/) [Countenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countenance/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Human Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-legislation-242645/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Individualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individualism/) [Interpretation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpretation/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation/) [Legislation Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation-madness-2770968/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Require Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/require-conformity-2635342/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Stature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stature/) [Uniformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniformity/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [“They need a social mechanism to make us require conformity of one other, and the best way to do that is to provide a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/they-need-a-social-mechanism-to-make-us-require-conformity-of-one/)

[Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/)

> [Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality, liberty, property-this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/life-faculties-production-in-other-words-individuality-liberty/)

[Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/)

> [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/)

[Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/)

> [Is uniformity of opinion desirable? No more than that of face and stature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/is-uniformity-of-opinion-desirable-no-more-than-that-of-face-and/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/subject-opinion-to-coercion-whom-will-you-make-your-inquisitors/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Uniformity in the common law, consisting of broad principles like the "reasonable person" standard, generally permits adjustment for the circumstances. This type of uniform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/uniformity-in-the-common-law-consisting-of-broad-principles-like-the/)

[Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/)

> [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/)

[G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/)

> [O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing The same that were taught me ten seasons ago; The schoolmaster over the land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/o-give-me-new-figures-i-can-t-go-on-dancing-the-same-that-were-taught/)

[Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/)

> [Most of today's film actresses are typical of a mass-production age: living dolls who look as if they came off an assembly line and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-lawrenson/most-of-today-s-film-actresses-are-typical-of-a-mass-production-age/)

[Helen Lawrenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-lawrenson/)

> [Beneath the dingy uniformity of international fashions in dress, man remains what he has always been; a splendid fighting animal, a self-sacrificing hero, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/beneath-the-dingy-uniformity-of-international-fashions-in-dress-man/)

[William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/)

> [Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/science-has-sometimes-been-said-to-be-opposed-to-faith-and/)

[Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/)

> [The uniform necessities of human nature produce in a great measure uniformity of life, and for part of the day make one place like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-uniform-necessities-of-human-nature-produce-in-a-great-measure/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [A media system wants ostensible diversity that conceals an actual uniformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/a-media-system-wants-ostensible-diversity-that-conceals-an-actual/)

[Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/)

> [In Europe, radio stations are owned by a variety of different entities, so there is less uniformity on radio programming and more opportunity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/in-europe-radio-stations-are-owned-by-a-variety-of-different-entities/)

[Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/)

> [Withdraw allegiance from the old categories of the Negative (law, limit, castration, lack, lacuna), which the Western thought has so long held sacred as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/withdraw-allegiance-from-the-old-categories-of-the-negative-law-limit/)

[Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/)

## More by Josiah Warren

> [It is dangerous to understand new things too quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/it-is-dangerous-to-understand-new-things-too-quickly/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [The disconnection of Church and State was a master stroke for freedom and harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/the-disconnection-of-church-and-state-was-a-master-stroke-for-freedom/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [It has a sound and rational circulating medium, a real and definite representative of wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/it-has-a-sound-and-rational-circulating-medium-a-real-and-definite/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [Liberty is the sovereignty of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/liberty-is-the-sovereignty-of-the-individual/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [Liberty, then, is the SOVEREIGNTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/liberty-then-is-the-sovereignty-of-the-individual/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [Liberty, then, is the sovereignty of the individual, and never shall man know liberty until each and every individual is acknowledged to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/liberty-then-is-the-sovereignty-of-the-individual-and-never-shall-man/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [Liberty, then, is the sovereignty of the individual, and never shall man know liberty until each and every individual is acknowledged to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/liberty-then-is-the-sovereignty-of-the-individual-and-never-shall-man-2/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [I decline all noisy, wordy, confused, and personal controversies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/i-decline-all-noisy-wordy-confused-and-personal-controversies/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [Public influence is the real government of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/public-influence-is-the-real-government-of-the-world/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [It goes to establish a just and permanent principle of trade which puts an end to all serious fluctuations in prices and consequently, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/it-goes-to-establish-a-just-and-permanent-principle-of-trade-which/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [ Everyone must feel that he is the supreme arbiter of his own \[destiny\], that no power on earth shall rise over him, that he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/everyone-must-feel-that-he-is-the-supreme-arbiter-of-his-own-destiny/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [This circulating medium has a natural tendency to lessen by degrees the value and the use of money, and finally to render it powerless;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/this-circulating-medium-has-a-natural-tendency-to-lessen-by-degrees/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [ Governments commit more crimes upon persons and property and contribute more to their insecurity than all \[the\] criminals put together. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/governments-commit-more-crimes-upon-persons-and-property-and/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [The circulating medium being issued only by those who labor, they would suddenly become invested with all the wealth and all the power; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/the-circulating-medium-being-issued-only-by-those-who-labor-they/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

> [It has now become a very common sentiment, that there is some deep and radical wrong somewhere, and that legislators have proved themselves incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/it-has-now-become-a-very-common-sentiment-that-there-is-some-deep-and/)

[Josiah Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

[Explore all 18 Josiah Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To require conformity in the appreciation of sentiments or the interpretation of language, or uniformity of thought, feeling, or action, is a fundamental error in human legislation -- a madness which would be only equaled by requiring all men to possess the same countenance, the same voice or the same stature.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Josiah Warren"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciation-of-sentiments-or-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciation-of-sentiments-or-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/josiah-warren-29006_action_to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciatio_1084560.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To require conformity in the appreciation of sentiments or the interpretation of language, or uniformity of…” — Josiah Warren",
                "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": "Josiah Warren",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-warren/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To require conformity in the appreciation...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciation-of-sentiments-or-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-warren/to-require-conformity-in-the-appreciation-of-sentiments-or-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
