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.
If I were again beginning my studies, I would follow the advice of Plato and start with mathematics.
Education is the civil rights issue of our generation.
People who earn the label "creative" are really just people who_x000D_ _x000D_ come up with more combinations of ideas, find interesting ones faster,_x000D_ _x000D_ and are willing to try them out. The problem is that most schools_x000D_ _x000D_ and organizations train us out of those habits.
The things that have been most valuable to me I did not learn in school. Traditional education is based on facts and figures and passing tests - not on a comprehension of the material and its application to your life.
Teaching is a distraction and a burden, but it's also an incredible stimulus. And a reprieve, in a way. When you're trying to work on something and it's not going anywhere, you can go to school and there's a two-and-a-half-hour block of time in which you can accomplish something.
I think I would abolish schools which systematically inculcate sectarian beliefs.
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