There is no greater power in the world than the zest of a postmenopausal woman. Margaret Mead More Quotes by Margaret Mead More Quotes From Margaret Mead Life is in one of its smoother phases ... I've no responsibilities in the world except friends and students and cherishing the life of the world -- and the belief that there is enough love to go round. Margaret Mead phases responsibility world Dancing is the only activity in which almost all ages and both sexes participate. Margaret Mead dancing age sex If we are to give our utmost effort and skill and enthusiasm, we must believe in ourselves, which means believing in our past and in our future, in our parents and in our children, in that particular blend of moral purpose and practical inventiveness which is the American character. Margaret Mead character believe children No skill, no special aptitude, no vividness of imagination or precision of thinking would go unrecognized because the child who possessed it was of one sex rather than the other. No child would be relentlessly shaped to one pattern of behavior, but instead there should be many patterns, in a world that had learned to allow to each individual the pattern which was most congenial to his gifts. Margaret Mead children sex thinking The differences between the two sexes is one of the important conditions upon which we have built the many varieties of human culture that give human beings dignity and stature. Margaret Mead differences two sex The semimetaphysical problems of the individual and society, of egoism and altruism, of freedom and determinism, either disappear or remain in the form of different phases in the organization of a consciousness that is fundamentally social. Margaret Mead phases different organization 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 next stress mature I think the important thing about sisters is that they share the same minute, familiar life-style, the same little sets of rules. Therefore they can keep house with each other late in life, because they share the same bunch of housewifely prejudices. The important thing about women today is, as they get older, they still keep house. It's one reason they don't die, but men die when they retire. Women just polish the teacups. Margaret Mead house men thinking Britons put up with, Americans fix, Canadians cope Margaret Mead britons We must bear in mind the possibility that the greater opportunities open in the twentieth century to women may be quite withdrawn, and that we may return to stricter regimentation of women. Margaret Mead mind may opportunity Warfare ... is just an invention, older and more widespread than the jury system, but none the less an invention. Margaret Mead warfare invention war Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead Women should be permitted to volunteer for non-combat service, they should not be accepted, voluntarily or through the draft, as combat soldiers. We know of no comparable ways of training women and girls, and we have no real way of knowing whether the kinds of training that teach men both courage and restraint would be adaptable to women or effective in a crisis. But the evidence of history and comparative studies of other species suggest that women as a fighting body might be far less amenable to the rules that prevent warfare from becoming a massacre and, with the use of modern weapons, that protect the survival of all humanity. This is what I meant by saying that women in combat might be too fierce. Margaret Mead Women want medicore men. and men are working hard to become as medicore as possible. Margaret Mead Women want mediocre men, and men are working to become as mediocre as possible. Margaret Mead A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead change-the-world change people world Anthropology demands the open-mindedness with which one must look and listen, record in astonishment and wonder that which one would not have been able to guess. Margaret Mead listen look wonder science We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet. Margaret Mead prepare now yesterday children Fathers are biological necessities, but social accidents. Margaret Mead necessities accidents dad social