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Mary Catherine Bateson

Mary Catherine Bateson Quotes

Writer

Mary Catherine Bateson is an American writer renowned for her research on culture, society, and anthropology. Born on December 8, 1939, she is the daughter of Claude L. Bateson, a prominent sociologist. Her work often explores complex social phenomena, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and creative thinking.

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Famous Mary Catherine Bateson Quotes

“... as we age we have not only to readdress earlier developmental crises but also somehow to find the way to three affirmations that may seem to conflict. ... We have to affirm our own life. We have to affirm our own death. And we have to affirm love, both given and received. [p. 88]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“Moving is both liberating and debilitating. Undertaken too late, it is a very stressful process, one that sometimes seems to catapult people into frail old age, and undertaken too soon, it may preempt other possibilities. [p. 38]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“We never promised we would stay the same,/But only we would shape our change/From this now single clay.[p. 82]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“As people grow older, some of the ways they have contributed in the past may no longer be possible, but the challenge to society is not only to provide help and care where these are needed but also to offer the opportunity to contribute and care for others [p. 8]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“Since few people arrive at retirement with an understanding that this transition will involve a rethinking of who they are, an interim pattern has emerged, in which travel offers a way of fulfilling deferred daydreams of adventure while the next stage takes shape. [p. 31]”

Book:Composing a Life

Source: Composing a Life

“Sorting gets harder as time goes on--it requires a sort of ruthless decisiveness, while indecision results in endless dithering. Five moves, they say, equal a fire. But those who haven't moved may begin to need a fire. [p. 38]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“... active wisdom--an entire cohort with something new to offer to the world as years of experience combined with continuing health. [p. 52]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“It's all about being in control of myself as an older woman who lives alone, and it's all about how I am going to do what I have to do to be as strong as I can be and be confident that I can do what I need to do as an older person. [p. 62]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“After all, most of us have lived lives based on commitments made without any way of knowing where they would lead. The uncertainty is an essential element in commitment, the acceptance of consequences an essential element in fidelity. [p. 80]”

Book:Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

Source: Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom

“Improvisation and new learning are not private processes; they are shared with others at every age. We are called to join in a dance whose steps must be learned along the way, so it is important to attend and respond. Even in uncertainty, we are responsible for our steps.”

Way Important Age Process Steps Responsible Uncertainty Improvisation

Author:Mary Catherine Bateson

“... as we age we have not only to readdress earlier developmental crises but also somehow to find the way to three affirmations that may seem to conflict. ... We have to affirm our own life. We have to affirm our own death. And we have to affirm love, both given and received.”

Way Love May Seems Age Three Given Conflict Crisis Affirmation Developmental

Author:Mary Catherine Bateson

About the Author

Born: December 8, 1939
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 56

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Age Humans Memorable Way Improvisation Metaphor Needs Thinking Wells Affirmation Human Beings Individual Peace Seems Stories World Asks Caring Change Children

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Books & Sources

Composing a LifeRelated source material

Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active WisdomRelated source material

With a Daughter's Eye: A Memoir of Margaret Mead and Gregory BatesonRelated source material

Willing to Learn: Passages of Personal DiscoveryRelated source material

Angels fear: towards an epistemology of the sacredRelated source material

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