--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One ought not to hoard culture. It should…" description: "\"One ought not to hoard culture. It should be adapted and infused into society as a leaven. Liberality of culture does not mean illiberality of its bene..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/wallace-stevens-846_adapted_one-ought-not-to-hoard-culture-it-should_1046303.jpg" --- # One ought not to hoard culture. It should be adapted and… ![“One ought not to hoard culture. It should be adapted and infused into society as a leaven. Liberality of culture does not mean illiberality of its benefits.” quote by Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/wallace-stevens-846_adapted_one-ought-not-to-hoard-culture-it-should_1046303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/wallace-stevens-846_adapted_one-ought-not-to-hoard-culture-it-should_1046303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/wallace-stevens-846_adapted_one-ought-not-to-hoard-culture-it-should_1046303.jpg) > “One ought not to hoard culture. It should be adapted and infused into society as a leaven. Liberality of culture does not mean illiberality of its benefits.” [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Culture should be shared and integrated, not hoarded, allowing its benefits to spread freely. **In simple terms:** Share culture, don’t keep it to yourself. Key Takeaway Distribute cultural wealth widely. Themes culture sharing generosity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical social When to use this quote - education - media - community projects Key Concepts social diffusion cultural enrichment Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of hoarding cultural knowledge? - How can we encourage cultural sharing? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adapted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adapted/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Adapted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-adapted-2476030/) [Culture Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-does-420900/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Hoard Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoard-culture-2476031/) [Liberality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberality/) [Liberality Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberality-culture-2476029/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [As Buddhism moved from one culture to another, it always adapted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-buddhism-moved-from-one-culture-to-another-it-always-adapted/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Look at the kind of people who most object to the childishness and cheapness of celebrity culture. Does one really want to side with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/look-at-the-kind-of-people-who-most-object-to-the-childishness-and/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/culture-does-not-make-people-people-make-culture-if-it-is-true-that/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [A something-for-nothing culture does no one any favours. It makes those who are doing the right thing cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/a-something-for-nothing-culture-does-no-one-any-favours-it-makes/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [“I remembered what Morrie said during our visit: “The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-remembered-what-morrie-said-during-our-visit-the-culture-we-have/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [People are only mean when they're threatened, and that's what our culture does...And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/people-are-only-mean-when-they-re-threatened-and-that-s-what-our-2/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/preservation-of-one-s-own-culture-does-not-require-contempt-or/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/well-for-one-thing-the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good-2/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [People are only mean when they're threatened, and that's what our culture does. That's what our economy does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/people-are-only-mean-when-they-re-threatened-and-that-s-what-our/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We’re teaching the wrong things. And you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/well-for-one-thing-the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Said to Mitch Album in "Tuesday's with Morrie": "The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/said-to-mitch-album-in-tuesday-s-with-morrie-the-culture-we-have-does/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [One great function of the arts is to keep ideals alive in a culture that does not yet realize them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-neiman/one-great-function-of-the-arts-is-to-keep-ideals-alive-in-a-culture/) [Susan Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-neiman/) > [“Relationships may not scale, but culture does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/relationships-may-not-scale-but-culture-does/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good-about-themselves/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [ From a hundred cultures, \[there is\] one culture which does what no culture has ever done before-gives a place to every human gift. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/from-a-hundred-cultures-there-is-one-culture-which-does-what-no/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by Wallace Stevens > [Poet, patting more nonsense foamed From the sea, conceive for thecourts Of these academies, the diviner health Disclosed in common forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/poet-patting-more-nonsense-foamed-from-the-sea-conceive-for-thecourts/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [The way through the world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-way-through-the-world-is-more-difficult-to-find-than-the-way/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [The magnificent cause of being, The imagination, the one reality In this imagined world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-magnificent-cause-of-being-the-imagination-the-one-reality-in/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Music falls on the silence like a sense / A passion that we feel, not understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/music-falls-on-the-silence-like-a-sense-a-passion-that-we-feel-not/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [The life of the city never lets you go, nor do you ever want it to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-life-of-the-city-never-lets-you-go-nor-do-you-ever-want-it-to/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [After a lustre of the moon, we say We have not the need of any paradise, We have not the need of any seducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/after-a-lustre-of-the-moon-we-say-we-have-not-the-need-of-any/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [I am what is around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/i-am-what-is-around-me/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“We live in an old chaos of the sun, Or old dependency of day and night, Or island solitude, unsponsored, free, Of that wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/we-live-in-an-old-chaos-of-the-sun-or-old-dependency-of-day-and-night/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“Lunar Paraphrase" The moon is the mother of pathos and pity. When, at the wearier end of November, Her old light moves along the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/lunar-paraphrase-the-moon-is-the-mother-of-pathos-and-pity-when-at/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Poetry is the scholar's art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/poetry-is-the-scholar-s-art/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“The stars are putting on their glittering belts, They throw around their shoulders cloaks that flash Like a great shadow's last embellishment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-stars-are-putting-on-their-glittering-belts-they-throw-around/) [wallace stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Unfortunately there is nothing more inane than an Easter carol. It is a religious perversion of the activity of Spring in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/unfortunately-there-is-nothing-more-inane-than-an-easter-carol-it-is/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [The word is the making of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-word-is-the-making-of-the-world/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [A diary is more or less the work of a man of clay whose hands are clumsy and in whose eyes there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/a-diary-is-more-or-less-the-work-of-a-man-of-clay-whose-hands-are/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [It is never the thing but the version of the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/it-is-never-the-thing-but-the-version-of-the-thing/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) [Explore all 352 Wallace Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) ## More Adapted quotes > [A 'modern' man has nothing to add to modernism, if only because he has nothing to oppose it with. 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The studios that have purchased my work to be adapted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/to-be-quite-honest-i-ve-been-very-blessed-when-i-ve-worked-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [More birds have adapted to a changing world than have failed. Very few have the narrow tolerance of the ivory-billed woodpecker or the Bachman's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-tory-peterson/more-birds-have-adapted-to-a-changing-world-than-have-failed-very-few/) [Roger Tory Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-tory-peterson/) > [All our surest statements about the nature of the world are mathematical statements, yet we do not know what mathematics "is"... and so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/all-our-surest-statements-about-the-nature-of-the-world-are/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [I believe that never was a country better adapted to produce a great race of women than this Canada of ours, nor a race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-murphy/i-believe-that-never-was-a-country-better-adapted-to-produce-a-great/) [Emily Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-murphy/) > [The symptoms of fascist thinking are colored by environment and adapted to immediate circumstances. But always and everywhere they can be identified by their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-symptoms-of-fascist-thinking-are-colored-by-environment-and/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said, 'Thou shalt not kill'; at another time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-which-is-wrong-under-one-circumstance-may-be-and-often-is-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accustom yourself to master and overcome things of difficulty; for if you observe, the left hand for want of practice is insignificant, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pliny-the-elder/accustom-yourself-to-master-and-overcome-things-of-difficulty-for-if/) [Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pliny-the-elder/) > [I have a very clear perception what the Internet is in my mind. I'm free. 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