The wise legislator will only rarely initiate a new rule of behaviour; more usually he will confine himself to affirming in law what has already become the custom of the people. — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Women watched for the spectacular performances of the men, and there can be no reasonable doubt that the presence of an audience is a very important factor in shaping the men's behavior. In fact, it is probable that the men… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. We shall never be able to say, "Ha! My perception,… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Synaptic summation is the technical term used in neurophysiology for those instances in which some neuron C is fired only by a combination of… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Somebody was saying to Picasso that he ought to make pictures of things the way they are-objective pictures. He mumbled that he wasn't quite… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy which we call mathematics. — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
What is true is that the idea of power corrupts. Power corrupts most rapidly those who believe in it, and it is they who… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
“A little hypocrisy and a little compromise oils the wheels of social life” — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Science, like art, religion, commerce, warfare, and even sleep, is based on presuppositions. It differs, however, from most other branches of human activity in… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Desired substance, things, patterns, or sequences of experience that are in some sense "good" for the organism - items of diet, conditions of life,… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
No organism can afford to be conscious of matters with which it could deal at unconscious levels. Broadly, we can afford to sink those… — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
Still more astonishing is that world of rigorous fantasy we call mathematics. — Gregory Bateson Copy Share Image
