Quotes by Mary Douglas

About Mary Douglas:

Dame Mary Douglas was a British anthropologist, known for her writings on human culture and symbolism, whose area of speciality was social anthropology. Douglas was considered a follower of Émile Durkheim and a proponent of structuralist analysis, with a strong interest in comparative religion.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I am convinced that living in an enclave shapes the personality, and living alone shapes the personality too.

Mary Douglas

An escalating, violent tit-for-tat may lead to terrorism.

Mary Douglas

It's unlikely that the organized religions will get more sectarian... or is it? I am not at all sure.

Mary Douglas

Pretensions to moral superiority are devastatingly destructive.

Mary Douglas

The natural response of the old-timers is to build a strong moral wall against the outside. This is where the world starts to be painted in black and white, saints inside, and sinners outside the wall.

Mary Douglas

When we are reflecting on terrorism we can grieve for many things we do and have done.

Mary Douglas

The theory of cultural bias... is the idea that a culture is based on a particular form of organization. It can't be transplanted except to another variant of that organization.

Mary Douglas

Our technological infrastructure alienates us from each other. No need to form a workplace community, everybody there will be out in a year or two, and so will you, looking for a better place.

Mary Douglas

Hierarchy is is much reviled in the present day.

Mary Douglas

Hierarchy works well in a stable environment.

Mary Douglas

Yes, disappointment over perceived unfairness, injustice, promises not kept, tends to go hand in hand with increasing prosperity. Expectations are dashed. What can I say!

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.

Mary Douglas

What did our nation ever do to provoke these madly vicious enemies? What is seen as injustice in one place is seen as just requital in the other.

Mary Douglas

Without that assured American largesse Israel would have been obliged to come to an accommodation with her neighbours.

Mary Douglas

If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization.

Mary Douglas

Behind a leader there must be followers, but they should always be on the lookout for the main chance and ready to change sides if the current leader doesn't deliver.

Mary Douglas

Some scholars have been arguing that a civilizational clash between organized religions is the next step in human history.

Mary Douglas

The history of the Church of Rome is a constant leakage of members into such breakaway cults, which go on splitting.

Mary Douglas

Mormons... are so strong, they can handle wealth, they are confident. I think it is because they are not bogged down by rules for equality, but have a firmly defined system of relative status and responsible command.

Mary Douglas

Inequality can have a bad downside, but equality, for its part, sure does get in the way of coordination.

Mary Douglas

Author Bio

  • NameMary Douglas
  • DescriptionBritish anthropologist
  • BornMarch 25, 1921
  • DiedMay 16, 2007
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionAnthropologist; Writer
  • AwardsDame Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire