We cannot always assure the future of our friends; we have a better chance of assuring our future if we remember who our friends are.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual
—Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) British Philosopher, Economist
A racially integrated community is a chronological term timed from the entrance of the first black family to the exit of the last white family.
—Saul Alinsky (1909–72) American Community Organizer, Political Theorist
The best political community is formed by citizens of the middle class.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
‘Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
A world community can only exist with world communication, which means something more than extensive software facilities scattered about the globe. It means common understanding, a common tradition, common idea’s and common ideals.
—Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899–1977) American Educator
I think that a young state, like a young virgin, should modestly stay at home, and wait the application of suitors for an alliance with her; and not run about offering her amity to all the world; and hazarding their refusal. Our virgin is a jolly one; and tho at present not very rich, will in time be a great fortune, and where she has a favorable predisposition, it seems to me well worth cultivating.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
In order to stand well in the eyes of the community, it is necessary to come up to a certain, somewhat indefinite, conventional standard of wealth.
—Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) American Economist, Social Critic
Union may be strength, but it is mere blind brute strength unless wisely directed.
—Samuel Butler
My faith has been the driving thing of my life. I think it is important that people who are perceived as liberals not be afraid of talking about moral and community values.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
A machine has value only as it produces more than it consumes – so check your value to the community.
—Martin H. Fischer
There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.
—M. Scott Peck (1936–2005) American Psychiatrist, Author
This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There is more than a verbal tie between the words common, community, and communication. Try the experiment of communicating, with fullness and accuracy, some experience to another, especially if it be somewhat complicated, and you will find your own attitude toward your experience changing.
—John Dewey (1859–1952) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Educator
Let there be a small country with few people …
Though neighboring communities overlook one another and the crowing of cocks and barking of dogs can be heard,
Yet the people there may grow old and die without ever visiting one another.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
In every community there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it.
—Marianne Williamson (b.1952) American Activist, Author, Lecturer
Individuals may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Alliance. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other’s pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Coalitions though successful have always found this, that their triumph has been brief.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.
—Eugene Ionesco (1909–94) Romanian-born French Dramatist
Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community.
—John W. Gardner (1912–2002) American Activist
Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
A community needs a soul if it is to become a true home for human beings. You, the people must git it this soul.
—Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) Polish Catholic Religious Leader
Law; an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
The challenge of social justice is to evoke a sense of community that we need to make our nation a better place, just as we make it a safer place.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it. A great power like the United States gains no advantage and it loses prestige by offering, indeed peddling, its alliances to all and sundry. An alliance should be hard diplomatic currency, valuable and hard to get, and not inflationary paper from the mimeograph machine in the State Department.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer