--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fortunately the family is a human…" description: "\"Fortunately the family is a human institution: humans made it and humans can change it.\" — Shere Hite" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg" --- # Fortunately the family is a human institution: humans made… ![“Fortunately the family is a human institution: humans made it and humans can change it.” quote by Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg) > “Fortunately the family is a human institution: humans made it and humans can change it.” [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Family structures are created by people and can be reshaped by them. **In simple terms:** People can change families. Key Takeaway Recognize agency to reform. Themes social change family dynamics agency Mood reflective hopeful Type sociological inspirational When to use this quote - marriage counseling - policy reform - community building Key Concepts sociology human agency Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals influence family norms? - What obstacles exist to reforming institutions? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted norms is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Government is not a human institution. It is a divine institution that humans are to run on His behalf. When they create their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/government-is-not-a-human-institution-it-is-a-divine-institution-that/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [“Family is the one human institution we have no choice over. We get in simply by being born, and as a result we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/family-is-the-one-human-institution-we-have-no-choice-over-we-get-in/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world; but to change ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/our-greatest-ability-as-humans-is-not-to-change-the-world-but-to/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Therefore, this is a question of whether we, humans, can change our culture and begin to truly care for all Creation, nurture all Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailesh-rao/therefore-this-is-a-question-of-whether-we-humans-can-change-our/) [Shailesh Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailesh-rao/) > [Humans change themselves through technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/humans-change-themselves-through-technology/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [The difference between animals and humans is that animals change themselves for the environment, but humans change the environment for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-difference-between-animals-and-humans-is-that-animals-change/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“What was it like?” … “I mean, long ago.” “Not too different to now,” ...“You humans – sorry, even part- humans – never seem to change much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-w-simpson/what-was-it-like-i-mean-long-ago-not-too-different-to-now-you-humans/) [Phillip W. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-w-simpson/) > [What has become of society now these days? It's not simple anymore; well life has never been simple though. Why can't people just accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-hough/what-has-become-of-society-now-these-days-it-s-not-simple-anymore/) Abigail Hough > [I think it's human nature that if we don't have our own family, we will create a family, because it's human nature, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/i-think-it-s-human-nature-that-if-we-don-t-have-our-own-family-we/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [My first priority is my family. I am human. But my whole family knows what my priority is. Family is always first. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/my-first-priority-is-my-family-i-am-human-but-my-whole-family-knows/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two races share today the soil of Canada. These people had not always been friends. But I hasten to say it. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-laurier/two-races-share-today-the-soil-of-canada-these-people-had-not-always/) [Wilfrid Laurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-laurier/) > [There's always a way," his sister lectured. "We'll need help, though." "What help?" Amy grinned. "Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/there-s-always-a-way-his-sister-lectured-we-ll-need-help-though-what/) [Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/) > [There is no third world, there is no first world. There maybe many tongues, beliefs & races, but there is only one family; human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/there-is-no-third-world-there-is-no-first-world-there-maybe-many/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [We are all human beings. As such, we are part of a big family: the human family. The pain of any human being will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/we-are-all-human-beings-as-such-we-are-part-of-a-big-family-the-human/) [Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/) > [ “\[People\] are beginning to awaken to an idea we gave meaning to in the sixties: We are one people, one family, the human family,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/people-are-beginning-to-awaken-to-an-idea-we-gave-meaning-to-in-the/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) ## More by Shere Hite > [Every family is a "normal" family- no matter whether it has one parent, two, or no children at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/every-family-is-a-normal-family-no-matter-whether-it-has-one-parent/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [All too many men still seem to believe, in a rather naïve and egocentric way, that what feels good to them is automatically what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/all-too-many-men-still-seem-to-believe-in-a-rather-na-ve-and/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [People make institutions, not vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/people-make-institutions-not-vice-versa/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [You cannot decree women to be sexually free when they are not economically free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/you-cannot-decree-women-to-be-sexually-free-when-they-are-not/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [I'm suggesting we call sex something else, and it should include everything from kissing to sitting close together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/i-m-suggesting-we-call-sex-something-else-and-it-should-include/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [Every family is a 'normal' family - no matter whether it has one parent, two or no children at all. A family can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/every-family-is-a-normal-family-no-matter-whether-it-has-one-parent-2/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [Contemplate the choice between going after money or ideals. There is so much pressure to go for money, idealism gets little airplay. Do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/contemplate-the-choice-between-going-after-money-or-ideals-there-is/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [We have the right to our own bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/we-have-the-right-to-our-own-bodies/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) > [... finally democracy is catching up with the old, hierarchical, father-dominated family: the family is being democratized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/finally-democracy-is-catching-up-with-the-old-hierarchical-father/) [Shere Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) [Explore all 10 Shere Hite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fortunately the family is a human institution: humans made it and humans can change it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shere Hite" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-institution-humans-made-it-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-institution-humans-made-it-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a22/shere-hite-40975_family_fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-instit_2834973.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fortunately the family is a human institution: humans made it and humans can change it.” — Shere Hite", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shere Hite", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shere-hite/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fortunately the family is a human...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-institution-humans-made-it-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shere-hite/fortunately-the-family-is-a-human-institution-humans-made-it-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```