The life history of the individual is first and foremost an accommodation to the patterns and standards traditionally handed down in his community.

The purpose of anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences.

I long to speak out the intense inspiration that comes to me from the lives of strong women.

No man ever looks at the world with pristine eyes. He sees it edited by a definite set of customs and institutions and ways of thinking.

The happiest excitement in life is to be convinced that one is fighting for all one is worth on behalf of some clearly seen and deeply felt good, and against some greatly scorned evil.

A man's indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude.

Racism remains in the eyes of history ... merely another instance of the persecution of minorities for the advantage of those in power.

The trouble with life isn't that there is no answer, it's that there are so many answers.

Our faith in the present dies out long before our faith in the future.

The trouble is not that we are never happy-it is that happiness is so episodical.

liberty is the one thing no man can have unless he grants it to others.

Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.

Failure is a greater teacher than success

Pose your questions to people and you will get countless useless answers.

how lovers alter in the glance of each other, that space where their moods are accepted and their surrender is never taken advantage of.

Equanimity means to let go, not to abandon.

While one may lose much because of avarice, nothing was ever accomplished by abstinence.

The compass of accurate knowledge directs the shortest, safest, cheapest course to any destination

Halloween put me on the map, and I'm very sad to hear of his death.

Attention to detail can't be (and never is) added later. It's an entire development philosophy, methodology, and culture.

Years ago, I thought old age would be dreadful, because I should not be able to do things I would want to do. Now I find there is nothing I want to do after all