"A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm"
- Henrik Ibsen
About this Quote
A community’s well-being relies on the shared responsibility of its members. The comparison to a ship highlights the notion that each individual within society should possess both the willingness and ability to step up and guide the collective when the moment demands. It is not just the designated “leaders” who ensure the safe passage of their group through sometimes tumultuous waters. Instead, the overall health, direction, and progress of a community depend on the readiness of all its members to steer when necessary.
Such a metaphor emphasizes participation, civic duty, and mutual support. Each person aboard is interdependent; if the captain falters or is incapacitated, others must be prepared and competent enough to prevent disaster. In the context of a community, this translates to active engagement, an informed citizenry, and individuals cultivating skills, knowledge, and empathy needed for collective governance and support. When only a select few make decisions or carry the burdens of leadership, the entire group is rendered vulnerable. A community made resilient and resourceful through the contribution of many hands and minds is more likely to navigate the storms of conflict, change, or crisis.
Personal accountability emerges as another core element—passengers are not passive. Whether it is voting, volunteering, offering expertise, or simply looking out for neighbors, each action contributes to the communal voyage. It is about dismantling apathy and entitlement in favor of proactive care and involvement. No matter one’s official title, all have a stake in steering toward a just, inclusive, and prosperous destination. The symbol of the ship serves as a constant reminder that society is an ongoing journey, sometimes requiring quick thinking and cooperation, sometimes demanding that someone new take charge. The most successful communities foster an environment where leadership is nurtured at all levels and the responsibility to “take the helm” is both a privilege and a shared expectation.
This quote is written / told by Henrik Ibsen between March 20, 1828 and May 23, 1906. He was a famous Poet from Norway.
The author also have 30 other quotes.
"A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living"
"To separate children from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone"
"Creating the kind of connections between people that lead to collective civic action, political expression, community dialogue, shared cultural experiences"
"One friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, a rivalry of aim"
"Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop"
