Margaret Mead Quotes

A collection of quotes by Margaret Mead.

Margaret Mead, born on December 16, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was an American cultural anthropologist who made significant contributions to the field of social sciences. Known for her pioneering work in studying various societies and cultures, Mead became one of the most influential figures in anthropology in the 20th century.

After studying at Barnard College, Mead continued her education at Columbia University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology in 1929. She went on to conduct extensive fieldwork in Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Bali, focusing particularly on adolescence, gender roles, and the impact of culture on society.

Mead's groundbreaking research challenged conventional Western beliefs about gender, sexuality, and child-rearing practices. Her famous book, "Coming of Age in Samoa" (1928), dismantled prevalent ideas regarding adolescent development and argued that cultural factors heavily influence human behavior.

Throughout her career, Mead advocated for the importance of understanding other cultures through participant observation and the acknowledgment of cultural relativism. Her empathy, curiosity, and dedication to promoting cross-cultural understanding made her a prominent public speaker and writer.

Mead's impact extended beyond academic circles. She actively participated in public debates and became a significant figure in American popular culture, advocating for social change and challenging gender norms. Margaret Mead passed away on November 15, 1978, leaving a lasting legacy as a prominent anthropologist, feminist, and advocate for cultural diversity.

What people say, what people do, and what they say they do a

What people say, what people do, and what they say they do are entirely different things.

Margaret Mead


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citi

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead


Life in the twentieth century is like a parachute jump: you

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

Margaret Mead


Fathers are biological necessities, but social accidents.

Fathers are biological necessities, but social accidents.

Margaret Mead


One of the oldest human needs is having someone wonder where

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

Margaret Mead


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citi

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead


There is no greater insight into the future than recognizing

There is no greater insight into the future than recognizing...when we save our children, we save ourselves

Margaret Mead

Women Inspirational

Thanks to television, for the first time the young are seein

Thanks to television, for the first time the young are seeing history made before it is censored by their elders.

Margaret Mead

History

Every time we liberate a woman, we liberate a man.

Every time we liberate a woman, we liberate a man.

Margaret Mead

Time

Many women, particularly young women, have claimed the right

Many women, particularly young women, have claimed the right to use the most explicit sex terms, including extremely vulgar ones, in public as well as private. But it is men, far more than women, who have been liberated by this change. For now that women use these terms, men no longer need to watch their own language in the presence of women. But is this a gain for women?

Margaret Mead

Women

Prayer does not use up artificial energy, doesn't burn up an

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.

Margaret Mead

Love

I must admit that I personally measure success in terms of t

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

Margaret Mead

Success

I have a respect for manners as such, they are a way of deal

I have a respect for manners as such, they are a way of dealing with people you don't agree with or like.

Margaret Mead

Respect

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like ev

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

Margaret Mead

Funny

Jealousy is not a barometer by which the depth of love can b

Jealousy is not a barometer by which the depth of love can be read, it merely records the degree of the lover's insecurity.

Margaret Mead

Envy / Jealousy

Sooner or later I'm going to die, but I'm not going to retir

Sooner or later I'm going to die, but I'm not going to retire.

Margaret Mead

Retirement

It is utterly false and cruelly arbitrary to put all the pla

It is utterly false and cruelly arbitrary to put all the play and learning into childhood, all the work into middle age, and all the regrets into old age.

Margaret Mead

Age

Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, col

Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful.

Margaret Mead

Age

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the worl

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

Margaret Mead

Change

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. I

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

Margaret Mead

Change