Margaret Mead
(1901-1978)

American Anthropologist
National Women's Hall of Fame
1979 Presidential Medal of Freedom

birthdate: December 16
birthplace:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

QUOTES

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.

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

Because of their agelong training in human relations-for that is what feminine intuition really is-women have a special contribution to make to any group enterprise.

I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings.

If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place.

It may be necessary temporarily to accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good.

Life in the twentieth century is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.

One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don't come home at night.

Our humanity rests upon a series of learned behaviors, woven together into patterns that are infinitely fragile and never directly inherited.

Prayer does not use up artificial energy, doesn't burn up any fossil fuel, doesn't pollute. Neither does song, neither does love, neither does the dance.

The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon how our children grow up today.

We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.

It has been a woman's task throughout history to go on believing in life when there was almost no hope.

We are living beyond our means. As a people we have developed a life-style that is draining the earth of its priceless and irreplaceable resources without regard for the future of our children and people all around the world.

As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.

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

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

Our first and most pressing problem is how to do away with warfare as a method of solving conflicts between national groups within a society who have different views about how the society is to run.

"If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse gift will find a fitting place."

"We won't have a society if we destroy the environment"

"EARTH DAY uses one of humanity’s great discoveries, the discovery of anniversaries by which, throughout time, human beings have kept their sorrows and their joys, their victories, their revelations and their obligations alive, for re-celebration and re-dedication another year, another decade, another century, another eon. EARTH DAY reminds the people of the world of the need for continuing care which is vital to Earth’s safety. …EARTH DAY draws on astronomical phenomena in a new way; using the vernal equinox, the time when the Sun crosses the equator making night and day of equal length in all parts of theEarth. To this point in the annual calendar, EARTH DAY attaches no local or divisive set of symbols, no statement of the truth or superiority of one way of life over another. But the selection of the March equinox makes planetary observance of a shared event possible. The vernal equinox calls on all mankind to recognize and respect Earth’s beautiful systems of balance, between the presence of animals on land, the fish in the sea, birds in the air, mankind, water, air, and land. Most importantly there must always be awareness of the actions by people that can disturb this precious balance."

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

"No society that feeds its children on tales of successful violence can expect them not to believe that violence in the end is rewarded."

 

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