Alignment Quote by Wendell Berry
“A proper community, we should remember also, is a commonwealth: a place, a resource, an economy. It answers the needs, practical as well as social and spiritual, of its members - among them the need to need one another. The answer to the present alignment of political power with wealth is the restoration of the identity of community and economy. (pg. 63, "Racism and the Economy")”
About This Quote
Source Book: Racism and the Economy, Wendell Berry, 2000
A community functions as a shared resource and economy, meeting practical, social, and spiritual needs, and restoring its identity counters wealth‑driven power.
In simple terms: Community is a shared economy meeting many needs.
Key Takeaway
Strengthen local ties and equitable resource sharing.
Themes
community
economics
social justice
spirituality
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- neighborhood initiatives
- faith groups
- policy reform
Key Concepts
commonwealth
interdependence
resource stewardship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we measure a community’s health?
- What policies best restore communal identity?
A Different Perspective
May be idealistic without concrete mechanisms.
