The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble

In the grand design of society, where every person plays a part, there exists a profound and often overlooked truth: that excellence in even the humblest of tasks is what upholds the integrity of the whole. The words of John W. Gardner, “The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water,” carry with them the weight of generations of wisdom. They remind us that a society must value every task, every role, and every discipline, for the quality of one part affects the whole.

The essence of Gardner’s words lies in the value of excellence—not just in the areas we deem noble or lofty, but also in the seemingly mundane tasks that are the foundation of society’s stability. Plumbing, often dismissed as lowly work, is essential to the very functioning of a city, a home, or a civilization. The pipes that carry water, the system that removes waste, are the arteries of modern life. Without a deep respect for the craftsmanship and care put into plumbing, society’s very foundation can be undermined. Similarly, philosophy, while often regarded as an exalted discipline, must also be handled with care. If philosophical ideas are not constructed with clarity, rigor, and truth, they, too, will fail to nourish the intellectual and moral life of society.

Consider the ancient Greeks, who placed philosophy at the center of their culture. But the Greeks also understood that craftsmanship—in all its forms—was equally vital. Plato, in his dialogues, often spoke of the importance of knowledge and excellence in every area of life. It was the craftsmen who built the temples and the cities that housed the philosophers; it was the soldiers who defended the citizens while they debated the nature of justice. The Greeks did not divide their society into high and low but recognized that the strength of a society lay in the excellence of all its components—whether in the wisdom of the philosophers or the skill of the builders.

In more modern history, we see how the loss of excellence in every task leads to the erosion of societal integrity. The Industrial Revolution brought with it a sharp division between the mental labor of the thinkers and the manual labor of the workers. The elite, who occupied the realms of philosophy, politics, and business, often held themselves apart from the workers who built the cities, laid the railroads, and created the goods that fueled economic growth. As society grew more complex, the value of excellence in craftsmanship was undermined by the rise of mass production and standardization. Workers were reduced to mere cogs in a machine, and the quality of work, whether in manual labor or intellectual pursuits, began to diminish.

But Gardner’s warning is not just about the hierarchy of value placed on various activities; it is about the integrity of society itself. A society that scorns one discipline while elevating another to an untouchable pedestal creates a fractured whole. The quality of work in any field is reflective of the respect society holds for that work. Whether a task is humble or lofty, if done with dedication and skill, it contributes to the strength of the whole society. When we tolerate mediocrity in any field, we degrade the system that relies on each part, and the structure begins to fall apart.

The lesson here is clear and urgent: excellence must be demanded in every task, every role, no matter how small or great it may seem. Gardner’s words urge us to honor every profession, from the plumber to the philosopher, and to ensure that all work is done with the utmost care and integrity. It is not enough to strive for brilliance in the lofty realms while neglecting the foundations of our daily lives. Whether we are building theories or structures, our work must be done with craftsmanship and dedication.

Let us, then, cultivate a society where excellence is not confined to one realm of life but is woven into every part of our collective existence. Whether we are thinking or doing, whether we labor in thought or manual work, let us pursue excellence in every aspect. Gardner’s wisdom calls us to a higher standard of living, to a world where every task is respected, and every individual is encouraged to do their work to the best of their ability. Only then, when all parts of society are strong, can the whole truly thrive.