It is only through contact and comparison that the relative value or worthlessness of the various cultural elements can be clearly and critically seen and understood.
Interpretation
Understanding culture requires analyzing and comparing different cultural elements.
This quote by Hu Shih emphasizes the importance of interaction and comparison in appreciating the diverse values of cultural elements. It suggests that only by engaging with and evaluating various cultural aspects can we truly discern their significance or lack thereof, highlighting the necessity of critical thinking in cultural analysis.
In practice
This quote could be used in a lecture about cultural studies.
If you have rooms that are very homogeneous, that have all had the same life experiences and educational backgrounds, and they're all relatively wealthy, their perspective on the world is going to mirror what they already know. That can be dangerous when we're making systems that will affect so many diverse populations.
Some people are born good-looking. Some have the gift of gab. And some are lucky enough to be born smarter than the rest of us. Whether we like it or not, Mother Nature does not dole these characteristics out evenly.
If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian.
We must reserve a back shop all our own entirely free, in which to establish our real liberty and our principal retreat and solitude.
Zen professes itself to be the spirit of Buddhism, but in fact it is the spirit of all religions and philosophies.
Sometimes I sit down to dinner with people and I realize there is a massive military machine surrounding us, trying to kill the people I'm having dinner with.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.