Top 25 Quotes by Ruth Benedict of 59 - Page 3

... it is a commonplace that men like war. For peace, in our society, with the feeling we have then that it is feeble-minded to strive except for one's own private profit, is a lonely thing and a hazardous business.

... it is a commonplace that men like war. For peace, in our society, with the feeling we have then that it is feeble-minded to strive except for one's own private profit, is a lonely thing and a hazardous business. Over and over men have proved that they prefer the hazards of war with all its suffering. It has its compensations.

Ruth Benedict

Lonely, Peace, War

The prime lesson the social sciences can learn from the natural sciences is just this: that it is necessary to press on to find the positive conditions under which desired events take place, and that these can be just as scientifically investigated as can instances of negative correlation. This problem is beyond relativity.

Ruth Benedict

Science, Events, Negative

Ruth Benedict (2011). “An Anthropologist at Work”, p.385, Transaction Publishers

Western civilization, because of fortuitous historical circumstances, has spread itself more widely than any other local group that has so far been known.

Ruth Benedict

Civilization, Historical, Groups

Ruth Benedict (1973). “Patterns of Culture”, p.30, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In a world that holds books and babies and canyon trails, why should one condemn oneself to live day-in, day-out with people one does not like, and sell oneself to chaperone and correct them?

Ruth Benedict

Baby, Children, Book

Ruth Benedict (2011). “An Anthropologist at Work”, p.126, Transaction Publishers

. . . work even when I'm satisfied with it is never my child I love nor my servant I've brought to heel. It's always busy work I do with my left hand, and part of me watches grudging the wastes of a lifetime.

Ruth Benedict

Children, Hands, Left Hand

Ruth Benedict (2011). “An Anthropologist at Work”, p.154, Transaction Publishers