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Margaret Mead Quotes - Page 10

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The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.

The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.

Margaret Mead
Law, Society, Contempt
"Impeachment?". Claire Safran, Redbook, April 1974.

Man's role is uncertain, undefined, and perhaps unnecessary.

Margaret Mead
Men, Roles, Unnecessary
Margaret Mead (1975). “Male and female: a study of the sexes in a changing world”, William Morrow & Co

I approached the idea of college with the expectation of taking part in an intellectual feast. ... In college, in some way that I devoutly believed in but could not explain, I expected to become a person.

Margaret Mead
Education, College, Ideas

Instead of needing lots of children, we need high-quality children.

Margaret Mead
Children, Quality, Needs
Attributed to Margaret Mead in Fleur L. Strand "Physiology: A Regulatory Systems Approach" (p. 509), 1978.

I have tried to answer the question which sent me to Samoa: Are the disturbances which vex our adolescents due to the nature of adolescence itself or to the civilization? Under different conditions does adolescence present a different picture?

Margaret Mead
Civilization, Doe, Different
Margaret Mead (1971). “Coming of Age in Samoa”

When human beings have been fascinated by the contemplation of their own hearts, the more intricate biological pattern of the female has become a model for the artist, the mystic, and the saint. When mankind turns instead to what can be done, altered, built, invented, in the outer world, all natural properties of men, animals, or metals become handicaps to be altered rather than clues to be followed.

Margaret Mead
Heart, Men, Artist
Margaret Mead (1975). “Male and female: a study of the sexes in a changing world”, William Morrow & Co

It is typical, in America, that a person's hometown is not the place where he is living now but is the place he left behind.

Margaret Mead
Roots, America, Typical
Margaret Mead, Rhoda Bubendey Métraux (1970). “A way of seeing”

I learned to observe the world around me, and to note what I saw

Margaret Mead
World, Saws, Notes
Margaret Mead (1972). “Blkberry Winter”

A society which is clamouring for choice, which is filled with many articulate groups, each urging its own brand of salvation, its own variety of economic philosophy, will give each new generation no peace until all have chosen or gone under, unable to bear the conditions of choice.

Margaret Mead
Philosophy, Giving, Choices
Margaret Mead (1973). “Coming of Age in Samoa”

With the exception of the few cases to be discussed in the next chapter, adolescence represented no period of crisis or stress, but was instead an orderly developing of a set of slowly maturing interests and activities.

Margaret Mead
Stress, Next, Mature
Margaret Mead (1973). “Coming of Age in Samoa”

For the very first time the young are seeing history being made before it is censored by their elders.

Margaret Mead
Media, History, Being Sad

Orientation in time, space, and status are the essentials of social existence, and the Balinese, although they make very strong spirits for ceremonial occasions, with a few startling exceptions resist alcohol, because if one drinks one loses one's orientation. Orientation is felt as a protection rather than as a strait jacket and its loss provokes extreme anxiety.

Margaret Mead
Strong, Loss, Space
Gregory Bateson, Margaret Mead (1942). “Balinese Character: A Photographic Analysis”

Warfare ... is just an invention, older and more widespread than the jury system, but none the less an invention.

Margaret Mead
War, Warfare, Invention
"Warfare Is Only an Invention - Not a Biological Necessity" (1940)

Parents feel like immigrants in the country of the young.

Margaret Mead
Country, Parent, Young

I have spent most of my life studying the lives of other peoples - faraway peoples - so that Americans might better understand themselves.

Margaret Mead
Might, Study, Lives Of Others
Margaret Mead (1972). “Blkberry Winter”

People are still encouraged to marry as if they could count on marriage being for life, and at the same time they are absorbing a knowledge of the great frequency of divorce.

Margaret Mead
Divorce, People, Stills
"Male and Female". Book by Margaret Mead, 1949.

American society is very like a fish society. . . . Among certain species of fish, the only thing which determines order of dominance is length of time in the fishbowl. The oldest resident picks on the newest resident, and if the newest resident is removed to a new bowl, he, as oldest resident, will pick on the newcomers.

Margaret Mead
Order, Immigration, Dominance
Margaret Mead (2000). “And Keep Your Powder Dry: An Anthropologist Looks at America”, p.40, Berghahn Books

I suddenly realized that through no act of my own I had become biologically related to a new human being.

Margaret Mead
Grandparent, Humans, My Own
Margaret Mead (1972). “Blkberry Winter”

Women have an important contribution to make.

Margaret Mead
Important, Contribution, Important Contributions

Love is the invention of a few high cultures ... it is cultural artifact. To make love the requirement of a lifelong marriage is exceedingly difficult, and only a few people can achieve it. I don't believe in setting universal standards that a large proportion of people can't reach.

Margaret Mead
Love, Believe, People

War is only an invention, not a biological necessity.

Margaret Mead
War, Invention
Margaret Mead, Robert B. Textor (2005). “The World Ahead: An Anthropologist Anticipates the Future”, p.182, Berghahn Books

From a hundred cultures, [there is] one culture which does what no culture has ever done before-gives a place to every human gift.

Margaret Mead
Giving, Doe, Culture
Margaret Mead (2000). “And Keep Your Powder Dry: An Anthropologist Looks at America”, p.162, Berghahn Books

Human nature is potentially aggressive and destructive and potentially orderly and constructive.

Margaret Mead
Human Nature, Aggressive, Aggression
Margaret Mead (2000). “And Keep Your Powder Dry: An Anthropologist Looks at America”, p.134, Berghahn Books

The United States has the power to destroy the world, but not the power to save it alone

Margaret Mead
United States, World, States

EARTH DAY reminds the people of the world of the need for continuing care which is vital to Earth's safety.

Margaret Mead
People, Safety, Earth Day