--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be really useful, we must keep pace…" description: "\"To be really useful, we must keep pace with the state of society, and not dishearten it by attempts at what its population, means, or occupations will ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg" --- # To be really useful, we must keep pace with the state of… ![“To be really useful, we must keep pace with the state of society, and not dishearten it by attempts at what its population, means, or occupations will fail in attempting.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg) > “To be really useful, we must keep pace with the state of society, and not dishearten it by attempts at what its population, means, or occupations will fail in attempting.” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates aligning technological or societal progress with current social realities to avoid futile efforts. **In simple terms:** Match innovation to society’s needs. Key Takeaway Focus on practical, relevant advancements. Themes progress societal relevance pragmatism innovation Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - education reform - community development - null Key Concepts ethics public policy technology adoption Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders assess societal readiness before launching new initiatives? - What mechanisms ensure innovations serve the public good? A Different Perspective Ignoring societal context can lead to wasted resources and resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pace/) [Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Dishearten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-dishearten-5566862/) [State Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-society-695938/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful/) [Useful Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful-pace-5566861/) ## Related quotes > [A state of society where men may not speak their minds cannot long endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/a-state-of-society-where-men-may-not-speak-their-minds-cannot-long/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There are people into whose heads it never enters to conceive of any better state of society than that which now exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/there-are-people-into-whose-heads-it-never-enters-to-conceive-of-any/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [The state of society is one in which the members have suffered amputation from the trunk, and strut about so many walking monsters,—a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-state-of-society-is-one-in-which-the-members-have-suffered-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [ “All the power \[the State\] has is what society gives it, plus what it confiscates from time to time on one pretext or another;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-jay-nock/all-the-power-the-state-has-is-what-society-gives-it-plus-what-it/) [Albert Jay Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-jay-nock/) > [The great drama of Russian history has been between its state and society. Put simply, Russia has always had too much state and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/the-great-drama-of-russian-history-has-been-between-its-state-and/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [No state or society can claim to have established human rights once and for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/no-state-or-society-can-claim-to-have-established-human-rights-once/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [If we manage to remove the state enough for society to flourish, we will have succeeded because free economic activity will lead to benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/if-we-manage-to-remove-the-state-enough-for-society-to-flourish-we/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“In truth, a State whose society is not sovereign is no sovereign State at all. Such is the case when a society has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/in-truth-a-state-whose-society-is-not-sovereign-is-no-sovereign-state/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [There is nothing the state can do, and which society needs done, that cannot be done far better by the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-rockwell/there-is-nothing-the-state-can-do-and-which-society-needs-done-that/) [Llewellyn Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/llewellyn-rockwell/) > [the study of the law is useful in a variety of points of view. it qualifies a man to be useful to himself, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-study-of-the-law-is-useful-in-a-variety-of-points-of-view-it/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Everything is useful which contributes to fix the principles and practices of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/everything-is-useful-which-contributes-to-fix-the-principles-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Had not a conviction of the danger to which an unlimited occupation of the executive chair would expose the republican Constitution of our Government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/had-not-a-conviction-of-the-danger-to-which-an-unlimited-occupation/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is a moot question whether the origin of any kind of property is derived from nature at all. It is agreed by those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-moot-question-whether-the-origin-of-any-kind-of-property-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Agriculture is at the same time the most tranquil, healthy, and independent occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/agriculture-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-tranquil-healthy-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing is so engaging as the little domestic cares into which you appear to be entering, and as to reading it is useful for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-is-so-engaging-as-the-little-domestic-cares-into-which-you/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be really useful, we must keep pace with the state of society, and not dishearten it by attempts at what its population, means, or occupations will fail in attempting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-with-the-state-of-society-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attempting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-with-the-state-of-society-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/thomas-jefferson-43_attempting_to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-wi_1511618.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be really useful, we must keep pace with the state of society, and not dishearten it by attempts at what…” — Thomas Jefferson", "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": "Thomas Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be really useful, we must...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-with-the-state-of-society-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-be-really-useful-we-must-keep-pace-with-the-state-of-society-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 } } ] } ```