--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must face life as it is and understand…" description: "\"We must face life as it is and understand that diversity is its most essential feature.\" — Mary Parker Follett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg" --- # We must face life as it is and understand that diversity… ![“We must face life as it is and understand that diversity is its most essential feature.” quote by Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg) > “We must face life as it is and understand that diversity is its most essential feature.” [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life must be accepted as it is, recognizing diversity as essential. **In simple terms:** Accept reality and value diversity. Key Takeaway Live authentically, honor differences. Themes diversity acceptance realism inclusion Mood hopeful inspirational pragmatic Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - workplace culture - community building - policy making - personal relationships Key Concepts systems theory organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of diversity enrich your life? - How can you foster inclusion daily? A Different Perspective Ignoring diversity can lead to conflict and stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [We need to educate young people, give them the possibility to understand that the diversity is positive, to feel and experience it, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-seedorf/we-need-to-educate-young-people-give-them-the-possibility-to/) [Clarence Seedorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-seedorf/) > [Diversity is essential to happiness and in Utopia there is hardly any. This is a defect in all planned social systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/diversity-is-essential-to-happiness-and-in-utopia-there-is-hardly-any/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/tolerance-inter-cultural-dialogue-and-respect-for-diversity-are-more/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In part because individual judgement is not accurate enough or consistent enough, cognitive diversity is essential to good decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/in-part-because-individual-judgement-is-not-accurate-enough-or/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [Its not what we face in life its how we handle what we face that defines us as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mcglory/its-not-what-we-face-in-life-its-how-we-handle-what-we-face-that/) [Greg Mcglory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mcglory/) > [Face life's obstacles and never give up on your dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-ruettiger/face-life-s-obstacles-and-never-give-up-on-your-dreams/) [Rudy Ruettiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-ruettiger/) > [“Face it; life's gonna chew you up and spit you out. If you're lucky you'll get stuck to the bottom of someone's shoe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/face-it-life-s-gonna-chew-you-up-and-spit-you-out-if-you-re-lucky-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Ones Again,And Again the same way, the Some January , the sad face, then again, though life has JusT been an alarm Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/ones-again-and-again-the-same-way-the-some-january-the-sad-face-then/) Mak\_786 > [I fall flat on my face so much in life. I am becoming a pro at it !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/i-fall-flat-on-my-face-so-much-in-life-i-am-becoming-a-pro-at-it/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“This form, this face, this life living to live in a world of time beyond me; let me resign my life for this life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/this-form-this-face-this-life-living-to-live-in-a-world-of-time/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [Life becomes real only when we begin to face and solve our own problems. Until then we only swim in circles in a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/life-becomes-real-only-when-we-begin-to-face-and-solve-our-own/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Let's face it: life, and the way skin reacts to it, can be unpredictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-odudu/let-s-face-it-life-and-the-way-skin-reacts-to-it-can-be-unpredictable/) [A. J. Odudu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-odudu/) > [Face your life, its pain, its pleasure, leave no path untaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/face-your-life-its-pain-its-pleasure-leave-no-path-untaken/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“If you´re not ready to face death, you´re not ready to face life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-not-ready-to-face-death-you-re-not-ready-to-face-life/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Face Everything in your life, it will make you discover many things and you will realize the true meaning of life. Life never seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/face-everything-in-your-life-it-will-make-you-discover-many-things/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) ## More by Mary Parker Follett > [Many people tell me what I ought to do and just how I ought to do it, but Few have made me want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/many-people-tell-me-what-i-ought-to-do-and-just-how-i-ought-to-do-it/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [We are not wholly patriotic when we are working with all our heart for America merely; we are truly patriotic only when we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/we-are-not-wholly-patriotic-when-we-are-working-with-all-our-heart/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [One of the greatest values of controversy is its revealing nature. The real issues at stake come into the open and have the possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/one-of-the-greatest-values-of-controversy-is-its-revealing-nature-the/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Now that we are recognizing more fully the value of the individual, now that management is defining more exactly the function of each, many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/now-that-we-are-recognizing-more-fully-the-value-of-the-individual/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Law should seek far more than mere reconciliation; it should be one of the great creative forces of our social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/law-should-seek-far-more-than-mere-reconciliation-it-should-be-one-of/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [It is always the sign of the second-rate man when the decision merely meets the present situation. It is the left-over in a decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/it-is-always-the-sign-of-the-second-rate-man-when-the-decision-merely/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [... good intentions are not sufficient to solve our problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/good-intentions-are-not-sufficient-to-solve-our-problems/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Another idea that is changing is that the leader must be one who can make quick decisions. The leader to-day is often one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/another-idea-that-is-changing-is-that-the-leader-must-be-one-who-can/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Leader and followers are both following the invisible leader-the common purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/leader-and-followers-are-both-following-the-invisible-leader-the/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [I am convinced that any feeling of exaltation because we have people under us should be conquered, for I am sure that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/i-am-convinced-that-any-feeling-of-exaltation-because-we-have-people/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [I do not think that we have psychological and ethical and economic problems. We have human problems, with psychological, ethical and economical aspects, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/i-do-not-think-that-we-have-psychological-and-ethical-and-economic/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [An order then should always be given not as a personal matter, not because the man giving it wants the thing done, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/an-order-then-should-always-be-given-not-as-a-personal-matter-not/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Idealism and realism meet in the actual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/idealism-and-realism-meet-in-the-actual/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Unity, not uniformity, must be our aim. We attain unity only through variety. Differences must be integrated, not annihilated, not absorbed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/unity-not-uniformity-must-be-our-aim-we-attain-unity-only-through/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Democracy is not brute numbers; it is a genuine union of true individuals...the essence of democracy is creating. The technique of democracy is group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/democracy-is-not-brute-numbers-it-is-a-genuine-union-of-true/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) [Explore all 85 Mary Parker Follett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) ## More Diversity quotes > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [I think the issues around diversity of all kinds are really a huge problem in the startup world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/i-think-the-issues-around-diversity-of-all-kinds-are-really-a-huge/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [I hope that we always have diversity, that we have equality and representation every step of the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/i-hope-that-we-always-have-diversity-that-we-have-equality-and/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [Being an inclusive place means being inclusive for all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/being-an-inclusive-place-means-being-inclusive-for-all-people/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [In such a diversity it was impossible I should be disposed to melancholy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boone/in-such-a-diversity-it-was-impossible-i-should-be-disposed-to/) [Daniel Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boone/) > [If you chose a particular religion, you were siding with the government religion of whatever region you were in. That's never been true in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-you-chose-a-particular-religion-you-were-siding-with-the/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The growth of race relations management, diversity training and 'promoting good relations' has come at a cost. We are more sensitized to racism, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/the-growth-of-race-relations-management-diversity-training-and/) [Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/) > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Pilgrim of the heart, oneness in our vein - love is the revolution, Human is the name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/pilgrim-of-the-heart-oneness-in-our-vein-love-is-the-revolution-human/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [While our bipartisan establishment worships diversity, Trump saw Middle America recoiling from the demographic change brought about by Third World invasions. And he promised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/while-our-bipartisan-establishment-worships-diversity-trump-saw/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [There's this idea that inclusivity and seeking diversity is this agenda. And the truth is, it is. It's an agenda, but it's about addition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/there-s-this-idea-that-inclusivity-and-seeking-diversity-is-this/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. It's one of the presumable principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/we-re-never-all-going-to-agree-with-each-other-we-have-to-learn-to/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [Australia has embraced migrants from all different races, making us one of the most multiracial nations on earth. Most have assimilated and are proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/australia-has-embraced-migrants-from-all-different-races-making-us/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) [Browse all 2,733 Diversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must face life as it is and understand that diversity is its most essential feature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Parker Follett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understand-that-diversity-is-its-most/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Diversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understand-that-diversity-is-its-most/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d4/mary-parker-follett-7967_diversity_we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understan_2685745.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must face life as it is and understand that diversity is its most essential feature.” — Mary Parker Follett", "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": "Mary Parker Follett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must face life as it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understand-that-diversity-is-its-most/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/we-must-face-life-as-it-is-and-understand-that-diversity-is-its-most/#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 } } ] } ```