I was brought up to believe that the only thing worth doing was to add to the sum of accurate information in the world.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of contributing meaningful knowledge to society.
Margaret Mead's quote reflects her belief that a life dedicated to increasing the amount of accurate information in the world is one of the highest callings. She suggests that knowledge and education are vital for personal fulfillment and the betterment of society, highlighting the responsibility of individuals to seek truth and share it with others.
In practice
During a commencement speech to inspire graduates about their future roles in society.
Earth Day is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and yet brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology, the measurement of time, and instantaneous communication through space.
Prayer does not use up artificial energy, doesn't burn up any fossil fuel, doesn't pollute. Neither does song, neither does love, neither does the dance.
Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful.
We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.
EARTH DAY uses one of humanity's great discoveries, the discovery of anniversaries by which, throughout time, human beings have kept their sorrows and their joys, their victories, their revelations and their obligations alive, for re-celebration and re-dedication another year, another decade, another century, another eon.
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.
Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.
Writing a long essay is probably the most complex constructive act that most human beings areever expected to perform.
It may be said that an education which does not succeed in making poetry a resource in the business of life as well as in its leisure, has something the matter with it.
I simply want to celebrate the fact that right near your home, year in and year out, a community college is quietly - and with very little financial encouragement - saving lives and minds. I canβt think of a more efficient, hopeful or egalitarian machine, with the possible exception of the bicycle.
I was too worried about the grades and I should have been more worried about learning.
We think of speaking as something we do naturally, without any effort. But like playing music, it requires attention and knowledge and practice.
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