Human beings tend to regard the conventions of their own societies as natural, often as sacred. — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“ We never promised we would stay the same,/But only we would shape our change/From this now single clay. [p. 82]” — Mary Catherine Bateson Age Copy Share Image
There are few things as toxic as a bad metaphor. You can't think without metaphors. — Mary Catherine Bateson Metaphor Copy Share Image
When parents die, all of the partings of the past are reevoked with the realization that this time they will not return. — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“As people grow older, some of the ways they have contributed in the past may no longer be possible, but the challenge… — Mary Catherine Bateson Age Copy Share Image
The caretaking has to be done. "Somebody's got to be the mommy." Individually, we underestimate this need, and as a society we… — Mary Catherine Bateson Caretaking Copy Share Image
“A certain amount of friction is inevitable whenever peoples of different customs and assumptions meet… What is miraculous is how often it… — Mary Catherine Bateson Faith Copy Share Image
“Sorting gets harder as time goes on--it requires a sort of ruthless decisiveness, while indecision results in endless dithering. Five moves, they… — Mary Catherine Bateson Age Copy Share Image
The Christian tradition was passed on to me as a great rich mixture, a bouillabaisse of human imagination and wonder brewed from… — Mary Catherine Bateson Catholic Copy Share Image
“Physical things are eloquent tokens of ideas,enriched by new meanings through time even when the tokens are no more than evanescent paper… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
Improvisation and new learning are not private processes; they are shared with others at every age. We are called to join in… — Mary Catherine Bateson Age Copy Share Image
“Since few people arrive at retirement with an understanding that this transition will involve a rethinking of who they are, an interim… — Mary Catherine Bateson Adventure Copy Share Image
...a disgruntled reflection on my own life as a sort of desperate improvisation in which I was constantly trying to make something… — Mary Catherine Bateson Desperate Copy Share Image
... as we age we have not only to readdress earlier developmental crises but also somehow to find the way to three… — Mary Catherine Bateson Affirmation Copy Share Image
The critical question about regret is whether experience led to growth and new learning. Some people seem to keep on making the… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“It's all about being in control of myself as an older woman who lives alone, and it's all about how I am… — Mary Catherine Bateson Age Copy Share Image
Insight, I believe, refers to the depth of understanding that comes by setting experiences, yours and mine, familiar and exotic, new and… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“After all, most of us have lived lives based on commitments made without any way of knowing where they would lead. The… — Mary Catherine Bateson Age Copy Share Image
I had repeatedly accepted inappropriate burdens, stepping in to do what needed to be done. In retrospect, I think I carried them… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
![“We never promised we would stay the same,/But only we would shape our change/From this now single clay. [p. 82]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/011/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_we-never-promised-we-would-stay-the-same_209661.jpg)
![“As people grow older, some of the ways they have contributed in the past may no longer be possible, but the challenge to society is not only to provide help and care where these are needed but also to offer the opportunity to contribute and care for others [p. 8]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/96e/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_as-people-grow-older-some-of-the-ways-th_1947701.png)
![“Sorting gets harder as time goes on--it requires a sort of ruthless decisiveness, while indecision results in endless dithering. Five moves, they say, equal a fire. But those who haven't moved may begin to need a fire. [p. 38]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/1df/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_sorting-gets-harder-as-time-goes-on-it-r_2636387.jpg)
![“Since few people arrive at retirement with an understanding that this transition will involve a rethinking of who they are, an interim pattern has emerged, in which travel offers a way of fulfilling deferred daydreams of adventure while the next stage takes shape. [p. 31]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/21f/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_adventure_since-few-people-arrive-at-retirement-wi_704614.png)
![“The critical question about regret is whether experience led to growth and new learning. Some people seem to keep on making the same mistakes, while others at least make new ones. Regret and remorse can be either paralyzing or inspiring. [p. 199]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/72f/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_critical_the-critical-question-about-regret-is-wh_20978.jpg)
![“It's all about being in control of myself as an older woman who lives alone, and it's all about how I am going to do what I have to do to be as strong as I can be and be confident that I can do what I need to do as an older person. [p. 62]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/94e/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_it-s-all-about-being-in-control-of-mysel_17830.png)
![“After all, most of us have lived lives based on commitments made without any way of knowing where they would lead. The uncertainty is an essential element in commitment, the acceptance of consequences an essential element in fidelity. [p. 80]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/3a3/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_after-all-most-of-us-have-lived-lives-ba_709103.png)
