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Community Quote by Michael E. Gerber

“What’s also missing is a sense of relationship. People suffer in isolation from one another. In a world without purpose, without meaningful values, what have we to share but our emptiness, the needy fragments of our superficial selves? As a result, most of us scramble about hungrily seeking…” quote by Michael E. Gerber
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““What’s also missing is a sense of relationship. People suffer in isolation from one another. In a world without purpose, without meaningful values, what have we to share but our emptiness, the needy fragments of our superficial selves? As a result, most of us scramble about hungrily seeking distraction, in music, in television, in people, in drugs. And most of all we seek things. Things to wear and things to do. Things to fill the emptiness. Things to shore up our eroding sense of self. Things to which we can attach meaning, significance, life. We’ve fast become a world of things. And most people are being buried in the profusion. What most people need, then, is a place of community that has purpose, order, and meaning. A place in which being human is a prerequisite, but acting human is essential. A place where the generally disorganized thinking that pervades our culture becomes organized and clearly focused on a specific worthwhile result. A place where discipline and will become prized for what they are: the backbone of enterprise and action, of being what you are intentionally instead of accidentally. A place that replaces the home most of us have lost. That’s what a business can do; it can create a Game Worth Playing.””

Michael E. Gerber

About This Quote

Source Book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber, 1995

People feel isolated and fill emptiness with material things; true fulfillment comes from purposeful community and disciplined action.

In simple terms: Isolation leads to material chasing; community and purpose heal.

Key Takeaway

Build purposeful, disciplined communities.

Themes

loneliness materialism purpose community discipline

Mood

reflective hopeful serious

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

  • Corporate culture
  • startup teams
  • non‑profits
  • faith groups
  • online forums

Key Concepts

Existentialism social psychology organizational behavior

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you create a community that balances purpose and belonging?
  • What discipline can you adopt to give your life meaning?
A Different Perspective

Material pursuits cannot replace deep human connection.

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