Standardized personality differences between the sexes are of this order, cultural creations to which each generation, male and female, is trained to conform. Margaret Mead More Quotes by Margaret Mead More Quotes From Margaret Mead Coming to terms with the rhythms of women's lives means coming to terms with life itself, accepting the imperatives of the body rather than the imperatives of an artificial, man-made, perhaps transcendentally beautiful civilization. Emphasis on the male work-rhythm is an emphasis on infinite possibilities; emphasis on the female rhythms is an emphasis on a defined pattern, on limitation. Margaret Mead beautiful men mean The important thing about women today is, as they get older, they still keep house. It's one reason why they don't die, but men die when they retire. Women just polish the teacups. Margaret Mead important house men War is only an invention, not a biological necessity. Margaret Mead invention war Interest and proficiency in almost any one activity-swimming, boating, fishing, skiing, skating-breed interest in many more. Once someone discovers the delight of mastering one skill, however slightly, he is likely to try out not just one more, but a whole ensemble. Margaret Mead swimming fishing sports No society has ever yet been able to handle the temptations of technology to mastery, to waste, to exuberance, to exploration and exploitation... We have to learn to cherish this earth and cherish it as something that's fragile, that's only one, it's all we have... We have to use our scientific knowledge to correct the dangers that have come from science and technology. Margaret Mead mastery technology temptation The institution of marriage in all societies is a pattern within which the strains put by civilization on males and females alike must be resolved, a pattern within which men must learn, in return for a variety of elaborate rewards, new forms in which sexual spontaneity is still possible, and women must learn to discipline their receptivity to a thousand other considerations. Margaret Mead marriage men civilization In almost any society I think, the quality of the nonconformists is likely to be just as good as and no better than that of the conformists. Margaret Mead conformist quality thinking If I were to be taken hostage, I would not plead for release nor would I want my government to be blackmailed. I think certain government officials, industrialists and celebrated persons should make it clear they are prepared to be sacrificed if taken hostage. If that were done, what gain would there be for terrorists in taking hostages? Margaret Mead government taken thinking The negative cautions of science are never popular. If the experimentalist would not commit himself, the social philosopher, the preacher, and the pedagogue tried the harder to give a short-cut answer. Margaret Mead cutting giving science 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 The capacity for friendship usually goes with highly developed civilizations. The ability to cultivate people differs by culture and class; but on the whole, educated people have more ways to make friends... . In England, for instance, you find everyone in your class has read the same books. Here, people grope for something in common-like a newly engaged girl who came to me and said, "It's absolutely wonderful! His uncle and my cousin were on the same football team. Margaret Mead girl friendship football I suddenly realized that through no act of my own I had become biologically related to a new human being. Margaret Mead grandparent my-own humans [In Bali] life is a rhythmic, patterned unreality of pleasant, significant movement, centered in one's own body to which all emotions long ago withdrew. Margaret Mead long-ago movement body Mothers are a biological necessity; fathers are a social invention Margaret Mead women mother father For art to be reality, the whole sensuous being must be caught up in the experience. Margaret Mead caught reality art In this country, some people start being miserable about growing old while they are still young. Margaret Mead growing country people We need every human gift and cannot afford to neglect any gift because of artificial barriers of sex or race or class or national origin. Margaret Mead race class sex The ability to learn is older as it is also more widespread than is the ability to teach. Margaret Mead teach learning teaching One characteristic of Americans is that they have no toleration at all of anybody putting up with anything. We believe that whatever is going wrong ought to be fixed. Margaret Mead characteristics believe america Every act of motherhood contains a dual intent, as the mother holds the child close and prepares it to move way from her, as she supports the child and stands it firmly on its own feet, and as she guards it against danger and sends it out across the yard, down by the stream, and across the traffic-crowded highway. Unless a mother can do both - gather her child close and turn her child out toward the world - she will fail in her purpose. Margaret Mead mother children moving
