Acquire Quote by William James
“All the qualities of a man acquire dignity when he knows that the service of the collectivity that owns him needs them. If proud of the collectivity, his own pride rises in proportion. No collectivity is like an army for nourishing such pride.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Principles of Psychology by William James, 1890
Dignity comes from recognizing that personal qualities are valuable when they serve the larger group, and pride grows with group loyalty.
In simple terms: Personal worth is tied to serving the group.
Key Takeaway
Serve the community to build true dignity.
Themes
service
pride
collectivity
identity
dignity
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- team projects
- public service
- military units
- community volunteering
Key Concepts
social psychology
ego
altruism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal pride affect your contribution to a group?
- When should you prioritize self over collective needs?
A Different Perspective
Pride can become blind loyalty, harming individual judgment.
![“[Pragmatism's] only test of probable truth is what works best in the way of leading us, what fits every part of life best and combines with the collectivity of experience's demands, nothing being omitted.” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/072/william-james-228_art-of-life_pragmatism-s-only-test-of-probable-truth_942773.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
