--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An ideal society, properly so-called, can…" description: "\"“An ideal society, properly so-called, can be none other than an actual, present, society taken at its truest and best.”\" — Michael Oakeshott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/michael-oakeshott-23288_community_an-ideal-society-properly-so-called-can_3168618.jpg" --- # An ideal society, properly so-called, can be none other… ![“An ideal society, properly so-called, can be none other than an actual, present, society taken at its truest and best.” quote by Michael Oakeshott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/michael-oakeshott-23288_community_an-ideal-society-properly-so-called-can_3168618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/michael-oakeshott-23288_community_an-ideal-society-properly-so-called-can_3168618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/360/michael-oakeshott-23288_community_an-ideal-society-properly-so-called-can_3168618.jpg) > ““An ideal society, properly so-called, can be none other than an actual, present, society taken at its truest and best.”” [Michael Oakeshott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-oakeshott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A truly ideal society is not a distant utopia but the present community lived at its highest moral and practical standards. **In simple terms:** The best society is the one we build now, fully realized. Key Takeaway Strive to embody ideal values in today’s society. Themes utopia practical idealism community building Mood optimistic reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - civic engagement - policy design - grassroots movements - educational reform Key Concepts political philosophy ethics social theory Questions to Reflect On - What does an “actual” ideal society look like? - How can we measure progress toward it? A Different Perspective Idealism can be unrealistic without concrete plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Ideal society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-society/) [Present Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-society-1064164/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-properly-5757475/) [Society Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-taken-842769/) ## Related quotes > [Being alone in our present society raises an important question about identity and well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/being-alone-in-our-present-society-raises-an-important-question-about/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [It can be frustrating to see how society has taken the sacred out of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/it-can-be-frustrating-to-see-how-society-has-taken-the-sacred-out-of/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/society-is-always-taken-by-surprise-at-any-new-example-of-common-sense/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The only thing that the psychically-human being can do to improve society is to present society with one improved unit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-only-thing-that-the-psychically-human-being-can-do-to-improve/) [Albert J. 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