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The only standard we have for judging all of our social, economic, and political institutions and arrangements as just or unjust, as good or bad, as better or worse, derives from our conception of the good life for man on earth, and from our conviction that, given certain external conditions, it is possible for men to make good lives for themselves by their own efforts.
Mortimer Adler
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Our judgment of institutions depends on our vision of a good life and the belief in our ability to create it.

Mortimer Adler emphasizes that the assessment of our social, economic, and political systems as just or unjust is rooted in our understanding of what constitutes a good life. He suggests that we must believe in our capacity to improve our lives through our own actions, which in turn shapes how we evaluate the effectiveness and fairness of our institutions.

Themes

Good LifeJudgmentJusticeSocial InstitutionsEffort

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion on social justice at a community forum.

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If your friend wishes to read your 'Plutarch's Lives,' 'Shakespeare,' or 'The Federalist Papers,' tell him gently but firmly, to buy a copy. You will lend him your car or your coat - but your books are as much a part of you as your head or your heart.
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When we ask for love, we don't ask others to be fair to us-but rather to care for us, to be considerate of us. There is a world of difference here between demanding justice... and begging or pleading for love.
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