--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success and failure in our own national…" description: "\"Success and failure in our own national economy will hang upon the degree to which we are able to work with races and nations whose social order and wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/ruth-benedict-10946_able_success-and-failure-in-our-own-national_736645.jpg" --- # Success and failure in our own national economy will hang… ![“Success and failure in our own national economy will hang upon the degree to which we are able to work with races and nations whose social order and whose behavior and attitudes are strange to us.” quote by Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/ruth-benedict-10946_able_success-and-failure-in-our-own-national_736645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/ruth-benedict-10946_able_success-and-failure-in-our-own-national_736645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/400/ruth-benedict-10946_able_success-and-failure-in-our-own-national_736645.jpg) > “Success and failure in our own national economy will hang upon the degree to which we are able to work with races and nations whose social order and whose behavior and attitudes are strange to us.” [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our economy depends on how well we collaborate with culturally different societies. **In simple terms:** Economic success hinges on cross‑cultural cooperation. Key Takeaway Embrace diversity for economic stability. Themes economics culture collaboration diversity globalization Mood cautious optimistic Type observational prescriptive When to use this quote - international trade - multinational projects - immigration policy - cross‑cultural teams Key Concepts social anthropology economic interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve mutual understanding in business? - What policies foster respectful cultural exchange? A Different Perspective Cultural misunderstandings can still hinder cooperation despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Behavior and attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior-and-attitude/) [Cultural diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultural-diversity/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [National economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-economy/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-order/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success and failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-and-failure/) ## Related quotes > [The U.N. acts as the world's conscience, and over eighty-five percent of the work that is done by the United Nations is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-temple/the-u-n-acts-as-the-world-s-conscience-and-over-eighty-five-percent/) [Shirley Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-temple/) > [The failure of national economic policy is costing us more than jobs; it has begun to weaken that uniquely American spirit of risk-taking, large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/the-failure-of-national-economic-policy-is-costing-us-more-than-jobs/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [It's a failure of national vision when you regard children as weapons, and talents as materials you can mine, assay, and fabricate for profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hersey/it-s-a-failure-of-national-vision-when-you-regard-children-as-weapons/) [John Hersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hersey/) > [Philanthropic colonization is a failure. National colonization will succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-herzl/philanthropic-colonization-is-a-failure-national-colonization-will/) [Theodor Herzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-herzl/) > [... with every Asiatic country where we operate in cooperation with the existing culture, the need for intelligent understanding of that country and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/with-every-asiatic-country-where-we-operate-in-cooperation-with-the/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [For changes to be of any true value, they've got to be lasting and consistent. Any time you sincerely want to make a change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/for-changes-to-be-of-any-true-value-they-ve-got-to-be-lasting-and-2/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-of-the-human-freedoms-to-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As patterns of obedience develop, the specific blessings associated with obedience are realized and belief emerges. Desire, hope, and belief are forms of faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/as-patterns-of-obedience-develop-the-specific-blessings-associated/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Attitude determines how well you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/attitude-determines-how-well-you-do-it/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [“Sometimes, it is not about the skillset or talent alone but behavior and attitude is part of the ladder moing to the next steps”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel/sometimes-it-is-not-about-the-skillset-or-talent-alone-but-behavior/) Bel > [“As you recover, you will feel more conscious of your surroundings. Freed from the ‘fog’ of your pain, fear, and confusion, you will awaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-engel/as-you-recover-you-will-feel-more-conscious-of-your-surroundings/) [Beverly Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-engel/) > [“You are like a river. You go through life taking the path of least resistance. We all do—all human beings and all of nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/you-are-like-a-river-you-go-through-life-taking-the-path-of-least/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Personal righteousness is a choice. Faith is a gift from God, and one possessed of it can receive enormous spiritual power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-w-pearson/personal-righteousness-is-a-choice-faith-is-a-gift-from-god-and-one/) [Kevin W. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-w-pearson/) > [Consumer sales depend on the habits and behaviors of consumers, and those who manipulate consumer markets cannot but address behavior and attitude. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-barber/consumer-sales-depend-on-the-habits-and-behaviors-of-consumers-and/) [Benjamin Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-barber/) > [One can choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/one-can-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-set-of-circumstances/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More by Ruth Benedict > [We grow in time to trust the future for our answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/we-grow-in-time-to-trust-the-future-for-our-answers/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [An observer will see the bizarre developments of behavior only in alien cultures, not his own. Nevertheless this is obviously a local and temporary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/an-observer-will-see-the-bizarre-developments-of-behavior-only-in/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [In world history, those who have helped to build the same culture are not necessarily of one race, and those of the same race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/in-world-history-those-who-have-helped-to-build-the-same-culture-are/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [It is strange how long we rebel against a platitude until suddenly in a different lingo it looms up again as the only verity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/it-is-strange-how-long-we-rebel-against-a-platitude-until-suddenly-in/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [“Experience, contrary to common belief, is mostly imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/experience-contrary-to-common-belief-is-mostly-imagination/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [I gambled on having the strength to live two lives, one for myself and one for the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/i-gambled-on-having-the-strength-to-live-two-lives-one-for-myself-and/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [Western civilization, because of fortuitous historical circumstances, has spread itself more widely than any other local group that has so far been known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/western-civilization-because-of-fortuitous-historical-circumstances/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [The trouble is not that we are never happy - it is that happiness is so episodical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/the-trouble-is-not-that-we-are-never-happy-it-is-that-happiness-is-so/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [It is my necessary breath of life to understand and expression is the only justification of life that I can feel without prodding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/it-is-my-necessary-breath-of-life-to-understand-and-expression-is-the/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [The purpose of anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/the-purpose-of-anthropology-is-to-make-the-world-safe-for-human/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [I haven't strength of mind not to need a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/i-haven-t-strength-of-mind-not-to-need-a-career/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [As a matter of history great developments in art have often been remarkably separate from religious motivation and use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/as-a-matter-of-history-great-developments-in-art-have-often-been/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [The Japanese are, to the highest degree, both aggressive and unaggressive, both militaristic and aesthetic, both insolent and polite, rigid and adaptable, submissive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/the-japanese-are-to-the-highest-degree-both-aggressive-and/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [Society in its full sense ... is never an entity separable from the individuals who compose it. No individual can arrive even at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/society-in-its-full-sense-is-never-an-entity-separable-from-the/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [In a world that holds books and babies and canyon trails, why should one condemn oneself to live day-in, day-out with people one does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/in-a-world-that-holds-books-and-babies-and-canyon-trails-why-should/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) [Explore all 62 Ruth Benedict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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