Aboriginal Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“In dealing with the State, we ought to remember that its institutions are not aboriginal, though they existed before we were born; that they are not superior to the citizen; that every one of them was once the act of a single man; every law and usage was a man's expedient to meet a particular case; that they all are imitable, all alterable; we may make as good; we may make better.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Self-Reliance, 1841
Institutions are human-made, mutable, and can be improved; they are not inherently superior to citizens.
In simple terms: Institutions can be changed.
Key Takeaway
Participate in reforming institutions.
Themes
politics
law
citizen empowerment
Mood
inspirational
determined
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- voting
- community organizing
- legal reform
- education
Key Concepts
institutional theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What institutions need reform today?
- How can individuals influence institutional change?
A Different Perspective
Changing institutions requires collective effort and time.
