The creature that wins against its environment destroys itself.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that adaptation to one's environment is essential for survival, and failing to do so can lead to self-destruction.
Gregory Bateson highlights the intricate relationship between living beings and their environments, positing that those who attempt to dominate or eliminate their environmental challenges ultimately harm themselves. This reflects a deeper philosophical understanding of coexistence and balance in nature, where harmony with one's surroundings is crucial for sustainability and survival.
In practice
In a speech about environmental issues, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of sustainable practices.
In the transmission of human culture, people always attempt to replicate, to pass on to the next generation the skills and values of the parents, but the attempt always fails because cultural transmission is geared to learning, not DNA.
It is impossible, in principle, to explain any pattern by invoking a single quantity.
Language commonly stresses only one side of any interaction.
What is the pattern that connects the crab to the lobster and the primrose to the orchid, and all of them to me, and me to you?
Science, like art, religion, commerce, warfare, and even sleep, is based on presuppositions.
In the depths of the human soul... the desire to give meaning to one's own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things.
She thought how strange it would be if she ever said 'Hello' to him. One did not greet oneself each morning.
We all dream; we do not understand our dreams, yet we act as if nothing strange goes on in our sleep minds, strange at least by comparison with the logical, purposeful doings of our minds when we are awake.
There are no separate systems. The world is a continuum. Where to draw a boundary around a system depends on the purpose of the discussion.
We want the spirit of America to be efficient; we want American character to be efficient; we want American character to display itself in what I may, perhaps, be allowed to call spiritual efficiency - clear disinterested thinking and fearless action
Capitalism has been called a system of greedβyet it is the system that raised the standard of living of its poorest citizens to heights no collectivist system has ever begun to equal, and no tribal gang can conceive of.
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