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.
Ruth BenedictRead
I gambled on having the strength to live two lives, one for myself and one for the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the struggle of balancing personal identity with societal expectations.
Ruth Benedict reflects on the challenge of maintaining a sense of self while also fulfilling the roles and duties imposed by society. By 'gambling' on her strength, she acknowledges the difficulty and risk involved in living authentically, which often requires sacrificing some aspects of personal desires for the greater good or for the expectations of others.
Themes
IdentitySocietySelfStrengthBalance
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about self-identity, one could use this quote to encourage individuality.
More from Ruth Benedict
All quotes βIf we justify war, it is because all peoples always justify the traits of which they find themselves possessed, not because war will bear an objective examination of its merits
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A man's indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude.
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The adequate study of culture, our own and those on the opposite side of the globe, can press on to fulfillment only as we learn today from the humanities as well as from the scientists.
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