--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People have the most control over their…" description: "\"People have the most control over their affairs at the grass-roots level. Anything that can be fairly and efficiently handled at a grass-roots level sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/peace-pilgrim-1191_affair_people-have-the-most-control-over-their_3056216.png" --- # People have the most control over their affairs at the… ![“People have the most control over their affairs at the grass-roots level. Anything that can be fairly and efficiently handled at a grass-roots level should be thus handled, and only delegated to a higher authority when necessary.” quote by Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/peace-pilgrim-1191_affair_people-have-the-most-control-over-their_3056216.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/peace-pilgrim-1191_affair_people-have-the-most-control-over-their_3056216.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa4/peace-pilgrim-1191_affair_people-have-the-most-control-over-their_3056216.png) > “People have the most control over their affairs at the grass-roots level. Anything that can be fairly and efficiently handled at a grass-roots level should be thus handled, and only delegated to a higher authority when necessary.” [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates handling issues locally, delegating upward only when necessary **In simple terms:** Deal with problems at the grassroots level Key Takeaway Empower local decision‑making Themes grassroots efficiency delegation Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - community projects - organizational management - public policy - volunteer coordination Key Concepts decentralization empowerment Questions to Reflect On - When is central oversight essential? - How can local solutions be scaled? A Different Perspective Higher authorities may lack context for local nuances ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Authority Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority-necessary-2635005/) [Control Affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-affairs-391048/) [Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grass/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-authority-873687/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-control/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/immense-power-is-acquired-by-assuring-yourself-in-your-secret/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Our founders understood that divine authority was necessary in order to establish a ground on which the weak, the defenseless, the powerless, the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/our-founders-understood-that-divine-authority-was-necessary-in-order/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [“And forget not this: that outward semblance of authority is not a necessary symptom of its essence. There are men in high place who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talbot-mundy/and-forget-not-this-that-outward-semblance-of-authority-is-not-a/) [Talbot Mundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talbot-mundy/) > [In other words, the Church acknowledges Science as the higher authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ostwald/in-other-words-the-church-acknowledges-science-as-the-higher-authority/) [Wilhelm Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ostwald/) > [“The secular progressive movement in America has been successful in removing all vestiges of faith in God from the public square. The very fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/the-secular-progressive-movement-in-america-has-been-successful-in/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) > [“There is no higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies-2/there-is-no-higher-authority/) [Russell T. Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies-2/) > [My background is such that I am uneasy about religious laws, I think there's always a real danger when you start appealing to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/my-background-is-such-that-i-am-uneasy-about-religious-laws-i-think/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [“The oldest rule in the book is that you can delegate authority, but never responsibility—not even to higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-anderson/the-oldest-rule-in-the-book-is-that-you-can-delegate-authority-but/) [Taylor Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-anderson/) > [That science has long been neglected and declining in England, is not an opinion originating with me, but is shared by many, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/that-science-has-long-been-neglected-and-declining-in-england-is-not/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [“And the Vatican, whatever anyone else might have thought on the subject, answered, like Hebrew National hot dogs, to "a higher authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-the-vatican-whatever-anyone-else-might-have-thought-on-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But the very fact that this world is so challenging is exactly why you sometimes must reach out of its jurisdiction for help, appealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/but-the-very-fact-that-this-world-is-so-challenging-is-exactly-why/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Historically, America has answered to a higher authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/historically-america-has-answered-to-a-higher-authority/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [My speculation is that the U.S. does not want to establish the principle that it has to defer to some higher authority before carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/my-speculation-is-that-the-u-s-does-not-want-to-establish-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“I agree--the world isn't a nursery. But the very fact that this world is so challenging is exactly why you sometimes must reach out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-agree-the-world-isn-t-a-nursery-but-the-very-fact-that-this-world/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [It is right to submit to a higher authority whenever a command of God would be violated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/it-is-right-to-submit-to-a-higher-authority-whenever-a-command-of-god/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) ## More by Peace Pilgrim > [The motive, if you are to find inner peace, must be an outgoing motive. Service, of course-service. Giving, not getting. Your motive must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/the-motive-if-you-are-to-find-inner-peace-must-be-an-outgoing-motive/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Knowing that all things contrary to God's laws are transient, let us avoid despair and radiate hope for a warless world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/knowing-that-all-things-contrary-to-god-s-laws-are-transient-let-us/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I wish that every child could have growing space because I think children are a little like plants. If they grow too close together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-wish-that-every-child-could-have-growing-space-because-i-think/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [All of us can work for peace. We can work right where we are, right within ourselves, because the more peace we have within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/all-of-us-can-work-for-peace-we-can-work-right-where-we-are-right/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [As I lived up to the highest light I had, higher and higher light came to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/as-i-lived-up-to-the-highest-light-i-had-higher-and-higher-light-came/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you realize that those who do mean things are psychologically ill, your feelings of anger will turn to feelings of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-realize-that-those-who-do-mean-things-are-psychologically-ill/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you give your life as a prayer, you intensify the prayer beyond all measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-give-your-life-as-a-prayer-you-intensify-the-prayer-beyond-all/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If we fear nothing and radiate love, we can expect good things to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-we-fear-nothing-and-radiate-love-we-can-expect-good-things-to-come/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Be willing to face life squarely and get down beneath the surface of life where the verities and realities are to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/be-willing-to-face-life-squarely-and-get-down-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When societies are out of harmony, problems develop within the society - collective problems. Their purpose is to push the whole society toward harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-societies-are-out-of-harmony-problems-develop-within-the-society/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/unnecessary-possessions-are-unnecessary-burdens/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When you feel the need for a spiritual lift, try getting to bed early and get up early to have a quiet time at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-you-feel-the-need-for-a-spiritual-lift-try-getting-to-bed-early/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/this-is-the-way-of-peace-overcome-evil-with-good-falsehood-with-truth/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [For light I go directly to the Source of light, not to any of the reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/for-light-i-go-directly-to-the-source-of-light-not-to-any-of-the/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I would like to mention some preparations that were required of me. The first preparation is to take a right attitude toward life. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-would-like-to-mention-some-preparations-that-were-required-of-me/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) [Explore all 276 Peace Pilgrim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-wonder-if-it-s-possible-to-have-a-love-affair-that-lasts-forever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/as-long-as-the-state-permits-itself-to-interfere-in-the-affairs-of/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Love is mainly an affair of short spasms. If these spasms disappoint us, love dies. It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) [Michael Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atherton/) > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-ripped-the-sketch-from-the-wall-liar-edward-looked-more-ravaged/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [And what is literature, Rabo," he said, "but an insider's newsletter about affairs relating to molecules, of no importance to anything in the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-is-literature-rabo-he-said-but-an-insider-s-newsletter-about/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Browse all 2,218 Affair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People have the most control over their affairs at the grass-roots level. 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