--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We regard our living together not as an…" description: "\"We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap warranting endless competition among us but as a deliberate act of God to make us a communit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png" --- # We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap… ![“We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap warranting endless competition among us but as a deliberate act of God to make us a community of brothers and sisters jointly involved in the quest for a composite answer to the varied problems of life. Hence in all we do we always place…” quote by Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png) > “We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap warranting endless competition among us but as a deliberate act of God to make us a community of brothers and sisters jointly involved in the quest for a composite answer to the varied problems of life. Hence in all we do we always place man first and hence all our action is usually joint community oriented action rather than the individualism..” [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human community is a purposeful divine design, urging collective action over competition to solve life's challenges. **In simple terms:** We are meant to work together, not fight. Key Takeaway Prioritize community over self‑interest. Themes community cooperation purpose collective action spirituality Mood hopeful inspired reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team projects - neighborhood initiatives - social movements - conflict resolution Key Concepts Divine purpose social responsibility collective problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance community goals with personal aspirations? - What structures support genuine collective decision‑making? A Different Perspective May overlook individual needs and suppress personal ambition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [Individualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individualism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-together/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mishaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mishaps/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems Of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a very community-oriented person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-fisher/i-m-a-very-community-oriented-person/) [Jordan Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-fisher/) > [The community of man should be treated in the same way you would treat your community of brothers or fellow citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-community-of-man-should-be-treated-in-the-same-way-you-would/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Every nation is destined, by the law of God and humanity, to form a free and equal community of brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-mazzini/every-nation-is-destined-by-the-law-of-god-and-humanity-to-form-a/) [Giuseppe Mazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-mazzini/) > [It is truly not fun to be the family that sticks out in an all-white community. On the other side, I have five brothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/it-is-truly-not-fun-to-be-the-family-that-sticks-out-in-an-all-white/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Physicists dream of Nobel prizes, engineers dream of mishaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-tennekes/physicists-dream-of-nobel-prizes-engineers-dream-of-mishaps/) [Hendrik Tennekes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-tennekes/) > [In comedy, the witty style wins out over every mishap of the plot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/in-comedy-the-witty-style-wins-out-over-every-mishap-of-the-plot/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [He is truly wise who gains wisdom from another's mishap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-is-truly-wise-who-gains-wisdom-from-another-s-mishap/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any man who leads the regular and temperate life, not swerving from it in the least degree where his nourishment is concerned, can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-cornaro/any-man-who-leads-the-regular-and-temperate-life-not-swerving-from-it/) Luigi Cornaro > [A rent in your clothes is a mishap, a stain on them is a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-rent-in-your-clothes-is-a-mishap-a-stain-on-them-is-a-vice/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“I had a long history of calamitous mishaps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-had-a-long-history-of-calamitous-mishaps/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [My restlessness makes me a far better day-to-day traveler than he will ever be. I am infinitely curious and almost infinitely patient with mishaps,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/my-restlessness-makes-me-a-far-better-day-to-day-traveler-than-he/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [A person who takes warning from the mishaps of others will always be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-person-who-takes-warning-from-the-mishaps-of-others-will-always-be/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Weddings seem to be magnets for mishap and for whatever craziness lurks in family closets. In more ways than one, weddings bring out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/weddings-seem-to-be-magnets-for-mishap-and-for-whatever-craziness/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“I, Lisa K Friedman, being of sound mind and broken foot, served him with a mock complaint: breach of the marriage contract. New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-lisa-k-friedman-being-of-sound-mind-and-broken-foot-served-him-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people, their laziness, and, let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frantz-fanon/the-unpreparedness-of-the-educated-classes-the-lack-of-practical/) [Frantz Fanon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frantz-fanon/) ## More by Steven Biko > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [I am against the fact that a settler minority should impose an entire system of values on an indigenous people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/i-am-against-the-fact-that-a-settler-minority-should-impose-an-entire/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The wealth of the country must eventually be enjoyed by people of the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/the-wealth-of-the-country-must-eventually-be-enjoyed-by-people-of-the/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you say 'Black is beautiful' you are saying, 'Man you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/when-you-say-black-is-beautiful-you-are-saying-man-you-are-okay-as/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [Black Consciousness seeks to infuse the black community with a new-found pride in themselves, their efforts, their value systems, their culture, their religion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/black-consciousness-seeks-to-infuse-the-black-community-with-a-new/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [If one is free at heart, no man-made chains can bind one to servitude, but if one's mind is so manipulated and controlled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/if-one-is-free-at-heart-no-man-made-chains-can-bind-one-to-servitude/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The blacks are tired of standing at the touchlines to witness a game that they should be playing. They want to do things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/the-blacks-are-tired-of-standing-at-the-touchlines-to-witness-a-game/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [In a bid for change, we have to take off our coats, be prepared to lose our comfort and security, our jobs and positions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/in-a-bid-for-change-we-have-to-take-off-our-coats-be-prepared-to-lose/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The press is largely directed at white society or the so-called electorate whose values are laced with racial prejudice against black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/the-press-is-largely-directed-at-white-society-or-the-so-called/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [Sure there are a few good whites just as much as there are a few bad Blacks. However what we are concerned here with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/sure-there-are-a-few-good-whites-just-as-much-as-there-are-a-few-bad/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [Apartheid - both petty and grand - is obviously evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/apartheid-both-petty-and-grand-is-obviously-evil/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [We believe it is the duty of the vanguard political movement which brings change to educate people's outlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-believe-it-is-the-duty-of-the-vanguard-political-movement-which/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The black man has become a shell, a shadow of man, completely defeated, drowning in his own misery, a slave, an ox bearing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/the-black-man-has-become-a-shell-a-shadow-of-man-completely-defeated/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [It becomes more necessary to see the truth as it is if you realise that the only vehicle for change are these people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/it-becomes-more-necessary-to-see-the-truth-as-it-is-if-you-realise/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [To a large extent the evil-doers have succeeded in producing at the output end of their machine a kind of black man who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/to-a-large-extent-the-evil-doers-have-succeeded-in-producing-at-the/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) [Explore all 62 Steven Biko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap warranting endless competition among us but as a deliberate act of God to make us a community of brothers and sisters jointly involved in the quest for a composite answer to the varied problems of life. Hence in all we do we always place man first and hence all our action is usually joint community oriented action rather than the individualism..", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Biko" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an-unfortunate-mishap-warranting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an-unfortunate-mishap-warranting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/steven-biko-10985_action_we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an_1948395.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We regard our living together not as an unfortunate mishap warranting endless competition among us but as a…” — Steven Biko", "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": "Steven Biko", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We regard our living together not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an-unfortunate-mishap-warranting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-regard-our-living-together-not-as-an-unfortunate-mishap-warranting/#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 } } ] } ```