Quotes About Culture

The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine

The different human peoples did not evolve out of a common ancestor; they were each born out of the womb of their own homeland. We appeared in different parts of the world at the same time. Each group was as much a part of their environment as the other animals and plants of the region.

Traditions are just peer pressure from dead people.

We must see ourselves in community with all other people at local, national and global levels. While this may seem superficially easy, it is actually not. Western culture, now globally dominant, has systematically trained us to think and act as though we are separate individuals, often in competition with each other for scarce resources of one sort or another, primarily money, which has be-come the perceived means to all we want and need in life.

Culture uses art to dream the deaths of beautiful women.

A missionary plods through the first year or two, thinking that things will be different when he speaks the language. He is baffled to find, frequently, that they are not.

When we look back in time and study old cultures and ­people, we are impressed that death has always been distasteful to man and will probably always be

As history shows, dead metaphors make good idols.

People aren't the same when they've lived in India. It changes them, I've often noticed it.

history is shaped by the belief systems of those who made it.

beret sleeves.

Homemaking is a passion you can pass on from generation to generation.

There was something strange about this country of America, something that they all seemed to share and understand and she did not.

A lovely evening of new idioms and fresh mozzarella.

I had always been taught that the pursuit of happiness was my natural (even national) birthright. It is the emotional trademark of my culture to seek happiness. Not just any kind of happiness, either, but profound happiness, even soaring happiness. And what could possibly bring a person more soaring happiness than romantic love.

The culture of Rome just doesn't match the culture of Yoga, not as far as I can see. In fact, I've decided that Rome and Yoga don't have anything in common at all. Except for the way they both kind of remind you of the word toga.

I had long ago learned that when you are the giant, alien visitor to a remote and foreign culture it is sort of your job to become an object of ridicule. It's the least you can do, really, as a polite guest.

You don't like it? asked Luca, who loves this stuff. I bet Gandhi never ate lamb intestines in his life, I said. He could have. No, he couldn't have, Luca. Gandhi was a vegetarian. But vegetarians CAN eat this, Luca insisted. Because intestines aren't even meat, Liz. They're just shit.

I want to learn how to speak Italian. For years, I'd wished I could speak Italian--a language I find more beautiful than roses :)

library is a beautiful old thing

I lose count of how many bottles of Sardinian wine we drink before Deborah introduces to the table the suggestion that we follow a nice American custom here tonight by joining hands-and each in turn-saying what we are most grateful for. In three languages, then, this montage of gratitude comes forth, one testimony at a time.

Religious ceremonies are of paramount importance in Bali ( an island, don't forget, with seven unpredictable volcanoes on it-you would pray, too).

You don't have to live like this because people tell you it's the only way. You're not handcuffed to your culture!

Then, I will be a real Italian girl, instead of a total American who still can't hear someone across the street to his friend Marco without wanting instinctively to yell back Polo!