Blame Quote by Mary Douglas
“Inside a religious body you get sects and hierarchies, inside an information network you get bazaars and cathedrals, it is the same, call them what you like. They survive by pointing the finger of blame at each other.”
About This Quote
Source book: Purity and Danger by Mary Douglas, 1966
Both religious bodies and information networks create hierarchies and blame systems, regardless of terminology.
In simple terms: Structures create hierarchies and assign blame.
Key Takeaway
Question the labels we use for power structures.
Themes
hierarchy
blame
structure
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
observational
When to use this quote
- organizations
- online communities
- political movements
Key Concepts
sociology
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do labels affect perception of authority?
- Can we dismantle hierarchies without new labels?
A Different Perspective
Labels can obscure underlying power dynamics.
