--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our society must make it right and…" description: "\"Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/pearl-s-buck-1024_cares_our-society-must-make-it-right-and-possi_1531727.png" --- # Our society must make it right and possible for old people… ![“Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.” quote by Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/pearl-s-buck-1024_cares_our-society-must-make-it-right-and-possi_1531727.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/pearl-s-buck-1024_cares_our-society-must-make-it-right-and-possi_1531727.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/pearl-s-buck-1024_cares_our-society-must-make-it-right-and-possi_1531727.png) > “Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.” [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A civilization is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, especially the elderly, ensuring they feel safe and valued. **In simple terms:** A society’s worth is shown by caring for the elderly. Key Takeaway Prioritize respect and support for older generations. Themes compassion intergenerational responsibility social ethics Mood empathetic reflective Type ethical social When to use this quote - community programs - family caregiving - public policy - volunteer mentorship Key Concepts elder care social cohesion human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance economic constraints with elder care? - What cultural shifts are needed to reduce ageism? A Different Perspective Resources may be limited, making universal care challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) ## Related quotes > [The test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/the-test-of-a-civilization-is-in-the-way-that-it-cares-for-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-as-young-as-your-faith-as-old-as-your-doubt-as-young-as-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Society is what we make of it, so we'd better try to make it the best we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-murphy/society-is-what-we-make-of-it-so-we-d-better-try-to-make-it-the-best/) [Dale Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-murphy/) > [If the education and studies of children were suited to their inclinations and capacities, many would be made useful members of society that otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/if-the-education-and-studies-of-children-were-suited-to-their/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Haters is something created by society to make original people stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/just-me/haters-is-something-created-by-society-to-make-original-people/) [Just Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/just-me/) > [We're blaming the 'society', yet we are society. So to make it a better place, we must change ourselves first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/we-re-blaming-the-society-yet-we-are-society-so-to-make-it-a-better/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [The destiny of our society is yours to make and you have a vastly greater importance to the world than we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polykarp-kusch/the-destiny-of-our-society-is-yours-to-make-and-you-have-a-vastly/) [Polykarp Kusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polykarp-kusch/) > [“often we forget that it is the very people around us that we must live for first of all. If you cannot serve your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/often-we-forget-that-it-is-the-very-people-around-us-that-we-must/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [The function of the press in society is to inform, but its role in society is to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-liebling/the-function-of-the-press-in-society-is-to-inform-but-its-role-in/) [A. J. Liebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-liebling/) > [Collectivism answers: The power of society is unlimited. Society may make any laws it wishes, and force them upon anyone in any manner it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/collectivism-answers-the-power-of-society-is-unlimited-society-may/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Surely we can do more as a society and make things easier for people? We're becoming more and more selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/surely-we-can-do-more-as-a-society-and-make-things-easier-for-people/) [Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/) > [“Before he can remake his society, his society must make him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/before-he-can-remake-his-society-his-society-must-make-him/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Everyone in our society has had to make a contribution towards dealing with the debts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/everyone-in-our-society-has-had-to-make-a-contribution-towards/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [“wept, and in the wrinkles of old people. In the house of the Manchu Bannerman,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/wept-and-in-the-wrinkles-of-old-people-in-the-house-of-the-manchu/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Pentagon records show that at least 8,000 members of the all-volunteer U.S. Army have deserted since the Iraq war began. Hey, at least somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/pentagon-records-show-that-at-least-8-000-members-of-the-all/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) ## More by Pearl S. Buck > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Hunger makes a thief of any man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/hunger-makes-a-thief-of-any-man/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [War is the most devastating endemic and epidemic disease the human race has to endure, and yet too little has been done to discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/war-is-the-most-devastating-endemic-and-epidemic-disease-the-human/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [In our changing world nothing changes more than geography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/in-our-changing-world-nothing-changes-more-than-geography/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [No one really understood music unless he was a scientist, her father had declared, and not just a scientist, either, oh, no, only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/no-one-really-understood-music-unless-he-was-a-scientist-her-father/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Upon the profound discontent of the young in every country do I set my faith. I beg you, the young, to be discontented. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/upon-the-profound-discontent-of-the-young-in-every-country-do-i-set/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Wang Lung sat smoking, thinking of the silver as it had lain upon the table. It had come out of the earth, this silver,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/wang-lung-sat-smoking-thinking-of-the-silver-as-it-had-lain-upon-the/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/the-secret-of-joy-in-work-is-contained-in-one-word-excellence-to-know/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/if-our-american-way-of-life-fails-the-child-it-fails-us-all/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Mind and body were well or ill together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/mind-and-body-were-well-or-ill-together/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“U meni postoji mjesto gdje živim posve sama; tu obnavljam svoja proljeća koja nikad ne presahnu”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/u-meni-postoji-mjesto-gdje-ivim-posve-sama-tu-obnavljam-svoja-prolje/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Brave young American men climbed the rugged slopes of Korean mountains and fought in homesickness and desperate weariness for the sake of a people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/brave-young-american-men-climbed-the-rugged-slopes-of-korean/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Truth is always exciting. Speak it, then; life is dull without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/truth-is-always-exciting-speak-it-then-life-is-dull-without-it/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“All scientific effort must now be concentrated in the area of defence (sic). We have learned our lesson. We, the most civilized of people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/all-scientific-effort-must-now-be-concentrated-in-the-area-of-defence/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [to know how to read is to light a lamp in the mind, to release the soul from prison, to open a gate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/to-know-how-to-read-is-to-light-a-lamp-in-the-mind-to-release-the/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) [Explore all 304 Pearl S. Buck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) ## More Cares quotes > [Not only does he care, he cares about you. Don't ever forget that.. He does love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-heideman/not-only-does-he-care-he-cares-about-you-don-t-ever-forget-that-he/) [Bailey Heideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-heideman/) > [It isn't such a bad thing to always know that someone on the other side of the world cares about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/it-isn-t-such-a-bad-thing-to-always-know-that-someone-on-the-other/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [I learned to care people not because I'm a good person, but I know how it feels when no one cares..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-learned-to-care-people-not-because-i-m-a-good-person-but-i-know-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No one cares about books, that’s why you can write anything you want in them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/no-one-cares-about-books-that-s-why-you-can-write-anything-you-want/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [You don't want to be the guy nobody cares about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/you-don-t-want-to-be-the-guy-nobody-cares-about/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [“Who cares?' said Judy, who didn't care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/who-cares-said-judy-who-didn-t-care/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [If you think nobody cares about you well you are wrong becuase I care about you and thats the way I fell about you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-michaels/if-you-think-nobody-cares-about-you-well-you-are-wrong-becuase-i-care/) Kayleigh Michaels > [If you have one driver who only cares about himself then it's not great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-leclerc/if-you-have-one-driver-who-only-cares-about-himself-then-it-s-not/) [Charles Leclerc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-leclerc/) > [No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-one-loves-me-no-one-cares-for-me-but-you-mother/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [When I am feeling alone, like there is no one there for me and no one cares about me, god whispers, I am here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida/when-i-am-feeling-alone-like-there-is-no-one-there-for-me-and-no-one/) [Rashida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida/) > [If 10 people care for you,am one of them If 1 person cares for you,that would be me again If no one cares for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian/if-10-people-care-for-you-am-one-of-them-if-1-person-cares-for-you/) [Adrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian/) > [Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you? When it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gontier/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-someone-who-cares-about-you-when-it-s-easy/) [Adam Gontier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gontier/) > [When you're a mom to three children, nothing bothers you. Trust me. Who cares what people say? I've got other things to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/when-you-re-a-mom-to-three-children-nothing-bothers-you-trust-me-who/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [One Heart Cares For You I Have A Pair Of Eyes But Cannot See You Everyday. I Have A Pair Of Ears But Cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj/one-heart-cares-for-you-i-have-a-pair-of-eyes-but-cannot-see-you/) [Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj/) > [The day Facebook adds a Who Cares? button will be the best day ever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-loveable/the-day-facebook-adds-a-who-cares-button-will-be-the-best-day-ever/) [Arjun Loveable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-loveable/) Browse all 670 Cares quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pearl S. 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