Mary Douglas Quotes

37 quotes in 602 categories

• I am convinced that living in an enclave shapes the personality, and living alone shapes the personality too.
• Without the letters of condolence, telegrams of congratulations, and occasional postcards, the friendship of a separated friend is not a social reality. It has no…
• I am sure it must be true that people opt out of the mainstream society because they feel that there are going to be no…
• It is only partly true that religion does more harm than good in society. The community makes God into the image it wants, vengeful, or…
• Since 1970, relationships can be more volatile, jobs more ephemeral, geographical mobility more intensified, stability of marriage weaker.
• The natural response of the old-timers is to build a strong moral wall against the outside. This is where the world starts to be painted…
• Our technological infrastructure alienates us from each other. No need to form a workplace community, everybody there will be out in a year or two,…
• The theory of cultural bias... is the idea that a culture is based on a particular form of organization. It can't be transplanted except to…
• Behind a leader there must be followers, but they should always be on the lookout for the main chance and ready to change sides if…
• If people want to compete for leadership of a religious group, they can compete in piety. A chilling thought. Or funny.
• The human body is always treated as an image of society.
• It seems true that the growth of science and secularism made organized Christianity feel under threat.
• Mormons... are so strong, they can handle wealth, they are confident. I think it is because they are not bogged down by rules for equality,…
• Inequality can have a bad downside, but equality, for its part, sure does get in the way of coordination.
• Just in our lifetime our society has become looser and more private, it becomes extremely difficult to hold to any permanent commitment whatever, least of…
• The history of the Church of Rome is a constant leakage of members into such breakaway cults, which go on splitting.
• Enclave life becomes very tense, Even when they do elect a leader, the factions remain, with the threat of splitting off.
• Some scholars have been arguing that a civilizational clash between organized religions is the next step in human history.
• Islam is in principle egalitarian, and has always had problems with power.
• It's unlikely that the organized religions will get more sectarian... or is it? I am not at all sure.

Browse Mary Douglas Quotes by Category