If it be true that democracy is based upon the assumption that every man shall serve his fellow man, the organization of democracy should be gradually adapted to that assumption.
Interpretation
Democracy relies on the idea of serving one another, and its structure should reflect this belief.
Herbert Croly's quote highlights the fundamental principle of democracy, which is the collaborative service to fellow citizens. He emphasizes that the very organization of democratic systems should evolve to support and facilitate this principle, suggesting that true democracy is not just a political structure but a commitment to mutual support and service among individuals.
In practice
During a community meeting, to emphasize the importance of serving one another in our democracy.
Democracy must stand or fall on a platform of possible human perfectibility. If human nature cannot be improved by institutions, democracy is at best a more than usually safe form of political organization . . . . But if it is to work better as well as merely longer, it must have some leavening effect on human nature; and the sincere democrat is obliged to assume the power of the leaven. [Progressive]
I wouldn't want to live if I did not have my work. In any case, it's good that I'm already old and personally don't have to count on a prolonged future.
A great safeguard is the entire faith, the true faith, in which neither anything whatever can be added by anyone nor anything taken away; for, unless faith be one, it is not the faith.
Forth from his dark and lonely hiding-place, (Portentous sight!) the owlet Atheism, sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon, drops his blue-fringed lids, and holds them close, and hooting at the glorious sun in Heaven, cries out, ''Where is it?''
The idea is to remain in a state of constant departure, while always arriving.
Women sit or move to and fro, some old, some young, / The young are beautiful--but the old are more beautiful than the young.
An open society calls itself open to improvement. It is based on the recognition that people have divergent views and interests, and that nobody is in possession of the ultimate truth.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.