Federation Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
““Partnership was a voluntarily constituted federation like any other. So long as it worked, it worked, and if it didn’t work it stopped being. It was not an institution but a function. It had no sanction but that of private conscience.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Dispossessed, Ursula K. Le Guin, 1974
Partnerships are voluntary collaborations that persist only while mutually beneficial, lacking formal institutional backing.
In simple terms: Voluntary partnerships work only while useful.
Key Takeaway
Treat collaborations as flexible, not permanent.
Themes
collaboration
voluntary
flexibility
mutual benefit
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- business ventures
- friendships
- community projects
- joint research
Key Concepts
social contract
agency
private conscience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure fairness without formal rules?
- When should a partnership be dissolved?
A Different Perspective
May lack legal protection when disputes arise.
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