Accustomed Quote by Bronislaw Malinowski
“The anthropologist must relinquish his comfortable position in the long chair on the veranda of the missionary compound, Government station, or planter's bungalow, where, armed with pencil and notebook and at times with a whisky and soda, he has been accustomed to collect statements from informants… He must go out into the villages, and see the natives at work in gardens, on the beach, in the jungle; he must sail with them to distant sandbanks and to foreign tribes.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Argonauts of the Western Pacific, Bronislaw Malinowski, 1922
Anthropologists must leave comfortable, detached observation and engage directly with people in their daily lives.
In simple terms: Study people by living among them.
Key Takeaway
Engage firsthand with cultures.
Themes
fieldwork
empathy
participation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- cultural immersion
- policy analysis
- community projects
Key Concepts
Ethnography
participant observation
reflexivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does immersion affect objectivity?
- What responsibilities arise when joining daily life?
A Different Perspective
Risk of bias from close involvement; ethical dilemmas.
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