“Systemic study of national differences requires a certain generosity as well as tough-mindedness. The study of comparative religions has flourished only when men are secure enough in their own convictions to be unusually generous. They might be Jesuits or Arabic savants or unbelievers, but they could not be zealots. The study of comparative cultures too cannot flourish when men are so defensive about their own way of life that it appears to them to be by definition the sole solution in the world. Such men will never know the added love of their own culture which comes from a knowledge of other ways of life. They cut themselves off from a pleasant and enriching experience.”
Quote by Ruth Benedict
Work
The chrysanthemum and the sword: patterns of Japanese culture
This work explores the fundamental patterns and characteristics of Japanese culture, examining how societal values, interpersonal relationships, and behavioral norms shape the Japanese way of life. The study investigates cultural dimensions including the role of honor, the structure of social obligations, and the formation of collective identity. Through systematic analysis of cultural phenomena, the book provides insight into the underlying patterns that define Japanese society and its distinctive cultural framework. more
Author
Ruth Benedict
American anthropologist known for her contributions to cultural anthropology and social anthropology. Benedict focused on the differences between cultures and how these differences affect human behavior and social structures. more
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