--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The captain looked defensive. \"You regard…" description: "\"The captain looked defensive. \"You regard our customs as primitive?\"Every society to its own tastes, captain. The wisdom of one society would be folly ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_captains_the-captain-looked-defensive-you-regard_536784.jpg" --- # The captain looked defensive. "You regard our customs as… ![“The captain looked defensive. "You regard our customs as primitive?"Every society to its own tastes, captain. The wisdom of one society would be folly for another. Who is qualified to judge? Only the universe, which passes the judgment of survival on all peoples.” quote by Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_captains_the-captain-looked-defensive-you-regard_536784.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_captains_the-captain-looked-defensive-you-regard_536784.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_captains_the-captain-looked-defensive-you-regard_536784.jpg) > “The captain looked defensive. "You regard our customs as primitive?"Every society to its own tastes, captain. The wisdom of one society would be folly for another. Who is qualified to judge? Only the universe, which passes the judgment of survival on all peoples.” [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that cultural judgments are relative; each society's customs are valid within its context, and only survival determines their worth. **In simple terms:** Cultural norms differ; survival decides their value. Key Takeaway Respect diversity and avoid ethnocentric judgments. Themes cultural relativism ethics survival judgment Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - travel - international work - policy making - conflict resolution Key Concepts relativism anthropology ecology Questions to Reflect On - What criteria should guide judgments of other cultures? - How does survival shape cultural values? A Different Perspective May ignore moral universals or human rights concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“The Captain looked at Fermina Daza and saw on her eyelashes the first glimmer of wintry frost. Then he looked at Florentino Ariza, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/the-captain-looked-at-fermina-daza-and-saw-on-her-eyelashes-the-first/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [ \[The captain\] looked at Florentino Ariza, his invincible power, his intrepid love and was overwhelmed by the belated suspicion that it is life, more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/the-captain-looked-at-florentino-ariza-his-invincible-power-his/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) > [Despite the theories traditionally taught in high-school social studies, the truth is: the more primitive the society, the more leisured its way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farb/despite-the-theories-traditionally-taught-in-high-school-social/) [Peter Farb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farb/) > [Great works of art can be produced in barbarous societies - in fact the very narrowness of primitive society gives their ornamental art a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/great-works-of-art-can-be-produced-in-barbarous-societies-in-fact-the/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [It is the mark of a primitive society to view regression as progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/it-is-the-mark-of-a-primitive-society-to-view-regression-as-progress/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The Senate is the last primitive society in the world. We still worship the elders of the tribe and honor the territorial imperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/the-senate-is-the-last-primitive-society-in-the-world-we-still/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [In primitive society, where uniformity of occupation is the rule, and the distribution of the community into various classes of workers has hardly begun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/in-primitive-society-where-uniformity-of-occupation-is-the-rule-and/) [James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/) > [“On the one hand, there was the primeval institution of the sacrifice and the egalitarian distribution and communal consumption of its roast meat—a ritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-martin/on-the-one-hand-there-was-the-primeval-institution-of-the-sacrifice/) Felix Martin > [Men were only made into 'men' with great difficulty even in primitive society: the male is not naturally 'a man' any more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/men-were-only-made-into-men-with-great-difficulty-even-in-primitive/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [We don't live in a primitive society any more. Many of us are lucky enough to be educated. We also realize that gender and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konkona-sen-sharma/we-don-t-live-in-a-primitive-society-any-more-many-of-us-are-lucky/) [Konkona Sen Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konkona-sen-sharma/) > [“There is a violent contrast here, in this country, between the growing abstractness of a unclear universe and a primary, visceral, unbounded vitality, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-violent-contrast-here-in-this-country-between-the-growing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we were a primitive society, movie stars would be gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/if-we-were-a-primitive-society-movie-stars-would-be-gods/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [Anthropologists have often described what happens to a primitive society when its spiritual values are exposed to the impact of modern civilisation. Its people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/anthropologists-have-often-described-what-happens-to-a-primitive/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Photography is our exorcism. Primitive society had its masks, bourgeois society its mirrors. We have our images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/photography-is-our-exorcism-primitive-society-had-its-masks-bourgeois/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) ## More by Walter M. Miller, Jr > [The wild black scavengers of the skies laid their eggs in season and lovingly fed their young. They soared high over prairies and mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-wild-black-scavengers-of-the-skies-laid-their-eggs-in-season-and/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > […to abuse the intellect for reasons of pride, vanity, or escape from responsibility, is the fruit of that same tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/to-abuse-the-intellect-for-reasons-of-pride-vanity-or-escape-from/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Because a doubt is not a denial. Doubt is a powerful tool, and it should be applied to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/because-a-doubt-is-not-a-denial-doubt-is-a-powerful-tool-and-it/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [The trouble with being a priest was that you eventually had to take the advice you gave to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-trouble-with-being-a-priest-was-that-you-eventually-had-to-take/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? When mass murder's been answered with mass murder, rape with rape, hate with hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/what-s-to-be-believed-or-does-it-matter-at-all-when-mass-murder-s-2/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [That's where all of us are standing now, he thought. On the fat kindling of past sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/that-s-where-all-of-us-are-standing-now-he-thought-on-the-fat-2/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [It is said that water is for cattle and farmers, that milk is for children and blood for men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/it-is-said-that-water-is-for-cattle-and-farmers-that-milk-is-for/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [But neither infinite power nor infinite wisdom could bestow godhood upon men. For that there would have to be infinite love as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/but-neither-infinite-power-nor-infinite-wisdom-could-bestow-godhood/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Men must fumble awhile with error to separate it from truth, I think- as long as they don't seize the error hungrily because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/men-must-fumble-awhile-with-error-to-separate-it-from-truth-i-think/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Ask for an omen, then stone it when it comes -- de essentia hominum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/ask-for-an-omen-then-stone-it-when-it-comes-de-essentia-hominum/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [One should be embarrassed to speak of God in the third person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/one-should-be-embarrassed-to-speak-of-god-in-the-third-person/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Soon the sun will set'- is that prophecy? No, it's merely an assertion of faith in the consistency of events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/soon-the-sun-will-set-is-that-prophecy-no-it-s-merely-an-assertion-of/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Listen, my dear Cors, why don't you forgive God for allowing pain? If He didn't allow it, human courage, bravery, nobility, and self-sacrifice would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/listen-my-dear-cors-why-don-t-you-forgive-god-for-allowing-pain-if-he/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [I'm not so sure he's mad, Father. Just a little devious in his sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/i-m-not-so-sure-he-s-mad-father-just-a-little-devious-in-his-sanity/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [When Holy Church occasionally hinted that she still considered her authority to be supreme over all nations and superior to the authority of states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/when-holy-church-occasionally-hinted-that-she-still-considered-her/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) [Explore all 23 Walter M. Miller, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) ## More Captains quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“An interesting captain on there, McNamara. Th e United States Lines had three captains. Every company had their captains that were notorious, and U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jacoby/an-interesting-captain-on-there-mcnamara-th-e-united-states-lines-had/) Robert Jacoby > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [In the Sacramento of the 1950s, it was as though White simply hadn't had time enough to figure Brown out. It was a busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/in-the-sacramento-of-the-1950s-it-was-as-though-white-simply-hadn-t/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/it-s-really-a-pity-that-there-are-observers-who-view-political-events/) [Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/) > [Acting on television is like being asked by the captain to entertain the passengers while the ship goes down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/acting-on-television-is-like-being-asked-by-the-captain-to-entertain/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [I was 35 years old and in a position to take a shot at whatever I wanted to try. The Air Force said I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-doyle/i-was-35-years-old-and-in-a-position-to-take-a-shot-at-whatever-i/) [Jerry Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-doyle/) > [Christianity, righty understood, is utterly unlike religion that man invents. It is so completely contrary to the way man does things that it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/christianity-righty-understood-is-utterly-unlike-religion-that-man/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) > [I need to gain a lot more experience. I think so much of being a director, other than the technical aspect and the artistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/i-need-to-gain-a-lot-more-experience-i-think-so-much-of-being-a/) [Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/) > [It is unfortunate when final decisions are made by chieftains headquartered miles away from the front, where they can only guess at conditions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/attila-the-hun/it-is-unfortunate-when-final-decisions-are-made-by-chieftains/) [Attila the Hun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/attila-the-hun/) > [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Superman punched out Hitler. So did Captain America. That's one of the things they're there for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/superman-punched-out-hitler-so-did-captain-america-that-s-one-of-the/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) Browse all 652 Captains quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The captain looked defensive. \"You regard our customs as primitive?\"Every society to its own tastes, captain. The wisdom of one society would be folly for another. Who is qualified to judge? Only the universe, which passes the judgment of survival on all peoples.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter M. 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