--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As societies trivialize traditional…" description: "\"“As societies trivialize traditional values, we witness a flow of immense suffering. We anguish, for instance, over what happens to the unborn, who can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/neal-a-maxwell-925_children_as-societies-trivialize-traditional-valu_2905411.jpg" --- # As societies trivialize traditional values, we witness a… ![“As societies trivialize traditional values, we witness a flow of immense suffering. We anguish, for instance, over what happens to the unborn, who cannot vote, and to children at risk. We weep over children having children and children shooting children. Often secular remedies to these challenges…” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/neal-a-maxwell-925_children_as-societies-trivialize-traditional-valu_2905411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/neal-a-maxwell-925_children_as-societies-trivialize-traditional-valu_2905411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c05/neal-a-maxwell-925_children_as-societies-trivialize-traditional-valu_2905411.jpg) > ““As societies trivialize traditional values, we witness a flow of immense suffering. We anguish, for instance, over what happens to the unborn, who cannot vote, and to children at risk. We weep over children having children and children shooting children. Often secular remedies to these challenges are not based on spiritual principles. To borrow a metaphor—secular remedies resemble an alarmed passenger traveling on the wrong train who tries to compensate by running up the aisle in the opposite direction! Only the acceptance of the revelations of God can bring both direction and correction and, in turn, bring a ‘brightness of hope’ (2 Ne. 31:20). Real hope does not automatically ‘spring eternal’ unless it is connected with eternal things!”” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When societies abandon core moral foundations, suffering escalates; only divine guidance can restore purpose and lasting hope. **In simple terms:** Losing values leads to pain; God’s truth restores hope. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual principles for lasting hope. Themes morality faith hope societal decay Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public policy - family counseling - education reform - community building Key Concepts theology ethics spiritual renewal Questions to Reflect On - How can we integrate spiritual values into modern policies? - What role does personal faith play in societal healing? A Different Perspective Secular solutions may still help if they incorporate ethical frameworks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Spiritual Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-principles/) [Traditional values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional-values/) ## Related quotes > [Real hope is much more than wishful musing. It stiffens, not slackens, the spiritual spine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/real-hope-is-much-more-than-wishful-musing-it-stiffens-not-slackens/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Real hope combined with real action has always pulled me through difficult times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/real-hope-combined-with-real-action-has-always-pulled-me-through/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [The real hope is not in something we think we can do, but in God, who is making something good out of it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-real-hope-is-not-in-something-we-think-we-can-do-but-in-god-who/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“But here, two thousand miles from home, there was a real shipwreck, a real hope. A choice big enough to change our lives forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/but-here-two-thousand-miles-from-home-there-was-a-real-shipwreck-a/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [“I think you'll find, that where there is real love, there is always real hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-think-you-ll-find-that-where-there-is-real-love-there-is-always/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [A radical inner transformation and rise to a new level of consciousness might be the only real hope we have in the current global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislav-grof/a-radical-inner-transformation-and-rise-to-a-new-level-of/) [Stanislav Grof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislav-grof/) > [Christmas is the one day of the year that carries real hope and promise for all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/christmas-is-the-one-day-of-the-year-that-carries-real-hope-and/) [Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/) > [I do believe that fundamental to any real hope is that we do need to reconstitute what has been generally handed out as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-do-believe-that-fundamental-to-any-real-hope-is-that-we-do-need-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Democracy still has a real hope and chance in Iraq, and true freedom in this country would be the greatest testament to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-landrieu/democracy-still-has-a-real-hope-and-chance-in-iraq-and-true-freedom/) [Mary Landrieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-landrieu/) > [In the kind of world we have today, transformation of humanity might well be our only real hope for survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislav-grof/in-the-kind-of-world-we-have-today-transformation-of-humanity-might/) [Stanislav Grof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislav-grof/) > [“Until we walk with despair, and still have hope, we will not know that our hope was not just hope in ourselves, in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/until-we-walk-with-despair-and-still-have-hope-we-will-not-know-that/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Real hope combined with real action has always pulled me through difficult times. Real hope combined with doing nothing has never pulled me through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/real-hope-combined-with-real-action-has-always-pulled-me-through-2/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [“When we feel like giving up, like we are beyond help, we must remember that we are never beyond hope. Holding on to hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/when-we-feel-like-giving-up-like-we-are-beyond-help-we-must-remember/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [Im real and I hope some of my followers are too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-real-and-i-hope-some-of-my-followers-are-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The real hope of the world lies in putting as painstaking thought into the business of mating as we do into other big businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/the-real-hope-of-the-world-lies-in-putting-as-painstaking-thought/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. 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