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‎ When a person is born we rejoice, and when they're married we jubilate, but when they die we try to pretend nothing has happened.
Margaret Mead
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Interpretation

What this quote means

We celebrate life events joyfully but struggle to acknowledge death honestly.

This quote by Margaret Mead highlights the contrasting ways society deals with the significant events of life, namely birth, marriage, and death. While the beginnings of life and the union in marriage are met with celebration and joy, the end of life often prompts avoidance and silence, pointing to a societal discomfort with mortality and the natural cycle of life.

Themes

LifeDeathCelebrationSocietyMortality

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a eulogy to remind attendees of the importance of celebrating life while also mourning death.

More from Margaret Mead

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American society is very like a fish society. . . . Among certain species of fish, the only thing which determines order of dominance is length of time in the fishbowl. The oldest resident picks on the newest resident, and if the newest resident is removed to a new bowl, he, as oldest resident, will pick on the newcomers.
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