--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Community, then, is an indispensable term…" description: "\"“Community, then, is an indispensable term in any discussion of the connection between people and land. A healthy community is a form that includes all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/wendell-berry-236_community_community-then-is-an-indispensable-term_459442.jpg" --- # Community, then, is an indispensable term in any… ![“Community, then, is an indispensable term in any discussion of the connection between people and land. A healthy community is a form that includes all the local things that are connected by the larger, ultimately mysterious form of the Creation. In speaking of community, then, we are speaking of a…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/wendell-berry-236_community_community-then-is-an-indispensable-term_459442.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/wendell-berry-236_community_community-then-is-an-indispensable-term_459442.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c3/wendell-berry-236_community_community-then-is-an-indispensable-term_459442.jpg) > ““Community, then, is an indispensable term in any discussion of the connection between people and land. A healthy community is a form that includes all the local things that are connected by the larger, ultimately mysterious form of the Creation. In speaking of community, then, we are speaking of a complex connection not only among human beings or between humans and their homeland but also between human economy and nature, between forest or prairie and field or orchard, and between troublesome creatures and pleasant ones. All neighbors are included. (pg. 202-203, Conservation and Local Economy)”” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Community links people, land, and nature in a complex, interdependent web, emphasizing inclusion of all beings and ecosystems. **In simple terms:** Community connects people, land, and nature. Key Takeaway Recognize and nurture inclusive relationships with place and people. Themes environment interdependence inclusion economy nature Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - urban planning - agricultural policy - community development - environmental education Key Concepts Ecology social contract systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can we broaden our sense of community beyond humans? - What policies best support inclusive ecological relationships? A Different Perspective Complex interconnections can be hard to map and address equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Local Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/local-economy/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Community, then, is an indispensable term in any discussion of the connection between people and land. A healthy community is a form that includes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/community-then-is-an-indispensable-term-in-any-discussion-of-the-2/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The sense of community is indispensable...to full self-realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-j-muller/the-sense-of-community-is-indispensable-to-full-self-realization/) [Herbert J. Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-j-muller/) > [We shall never understand the natural environment until we see it as a living organism. Land can be healthy or sick, fertile or barren,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brooks/we-shall-never-understand-the-natural-environment-until-we-see-it-as/) Paul Brooks > [The two ideas, justice and vocation, are inseparable… It is by way of the principle and practice of vocation that sanctity and reverence enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-ideas-justice-and-vocation-are-inseparable-it-is-by-way-of/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [We can fight the global economy with a strong local economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-can-fight-the-global-economy-with-a-strong-local-economy/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“A good community, in other words, is a good local economy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-good-community-in-other-words-is-a-good-local-economy/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The principle of neighborhood at home always implies the principle of charity abroad. (pg. 260, The Idea of a Local Economy)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-principle-of-neighborhood-at-home-always-implies-the-principle-of/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A good community insures itself by trust, by good faith and good will, by mutual help. A good community, in other words, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-good-community-insures-itself-by-trust-by-good-faith-and-good-will/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A healthy community is one in which the elderly protect, care for, love and assist the younger ones to provide continuity and hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-kuhn/a-healthy-community-is-one-in-which-the-elderly-protect-care-for-love/) [Maggie Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-kuhn/) > [Housing, it's not a plaything. It's not something that you can just play around with. It is, I believe, the rubric of family. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jumaane-williams/housing-it-s-not-a-plaything-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-just/) [Jumaane Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jumaane-williams/) > [It's a community event. Community events create strong communities, and a strong community is a healthy community. A healthy community is a happy community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-smith/it-s-a-community-event-community-events-create-strong-communities-and/) [Sandy Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-smith/) > [When we have healthy children, we have a healthy community. They can learn. They can play. They can be part of the future. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-trudeau/when-we-have-healthy-children-we-have-a-healthy-community-they-can/) [Margaret Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-trudeau/) > [The more isolated and disconnected we are, the more shattered and distorted our self-identity. We are not healthy when we are alone. We find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/the-more-isolated-and-disconnected-we-are-the-more-shattered-and/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [If humans were to model the lifestyle displayed by healthy community of cells , our societies and our planet would be more peaceful and vital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/if-humans-were-to-model-the-lifestyle-displayed-by-healthy-community/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) > [National Permaculture Day is a chance to share thoughts, visions and lots of common sense ways that we can all make a positive difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/costa-georgiadis/national-permaculture-day-is-a-chance-to-share-thoughts-visions-and/) [Costa Georgiadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/costa-georgiadis/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I knew a man who, in the age of chain-saws, went right on cutting his wood with a handsaw and an axe. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) [Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Community, then, is an indispensable term in any discussion of the connection between people and land. A healthy community is a form that includes all the local things that are connected by the larger, ultimately mysterious form of the Creation. In speaking of community, then, we are speaking of a complex connection not only among human beings or between humans and their homeland but also between human economy and nature, between forest or prairie and field or orchard, and between troublesome creatures and pleasant ones. All neighbors are included. 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