Ancient world Quote by Riane Eisler
““All over the ancient world populations were now set against populations, as men were set against women and against other men. Wandering over the width and breadth of this disintegrating world, masses of refugees were everywhere fleeing their homelands, desperately searching for a haven, for a safe place to go. But there was no such place left in their new world. For this was now a world where, having violently deprived the Goddess and the female half of humanity of all power, gods and men of war ruled. It was a world in which the Blade, and not the Chalice, would henceforth be supreme, a world in which peace and harmony would be found only in the myths and legends of a long lost past.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Chalice and The Blade, 1987
Patriarchal societies suppress feminine values, leading to conflict and loss of peace, which only lives on in myth.
In simple terms: Power structures favor war over harmony.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and restore balance between masculine and feminine values.
Themes
gender
power
mythology
conflict
balance
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
analysis
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- education curricula
- community dialogues
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
patriarchy
feminine principle
social harmony
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern institutions reflect the “blade” mindset?
- How can we revive “chalice” values today?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep structures is complex and slow.
