Authoritarianism Quote by Paul Goodman
““As our organized system perfects itself, there is less "open" environment. It is hard for a social animal to grow when there is not an open margin to grow in: some open space, some open economy, some open mores, some activity free from regulation...A society cannot have decided all possibilities beforehand and have structured them. If society becomes too tightly integrated and pre-empts all the available space, materials and methods... when time, clothes, opinions and goals become so regulated that people feel they cannot be "themselves" or create something new, they bolt and look for fringes and margins, loop-holes, holes in the wall, or they just run.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Growing Up Absurd, Paul Goodman, 1960
When societies over‑regulate, they stifle individual freedom, prompting people to seek marginal or rebellious spaces.
In simple terms: Too much control pushes people to the edges.
Key Takeaway
Preserve open spaces for creativity.
Themes
freedom
regulation
creativity
rebellion
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
cautionary
analytical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- corporate policy
- education reform
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
social dynamics
individual autonomy
systems theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How much regulation is necessary for safety?
- What spaces remain truly open?
A Different Perspective
Over‑regulation can also protect vulnerable groups, limiting harmful behavior.
![“The Sexual plight of these children [those adolescents experimenting sexually] is officially not mentioned. The revolutionary attack on hypocrisy by Ibsen, Freud, Ellis, Dreiser, did not succeed this far. Is it an eccentric opinion that an important part of the kids' restiveness in school from the…” quote by Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b5b/paul-goodman-7755_american-society_the-sexual-plight-of-these-children-thos_88140.jpg)
