Quotes about culture
page 36

Robert A. Heinlein photo
George Will photo

“The cultivation -- even celebration -- of victimhood by intellectuals, tort lawyers, politicians and the media is both cause and effect of today's culture of complaint.”

George Will (1941) American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author

Source: “Afflicted By Comfort” https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2004/01/11/afflicted-by-comfort/9aa0b1db-8b1f-4156-9bf9-8c9eb84ee6be/, The Washington Post, (January 11, 2004)

Jiang Qing photo

“Because of the nature of my work and because I was suffering from a grave ailment, my doctors advised me to take part in cultural activities to improve the balance of my sense of hearing and sense of sight. Thus, I came into contact with some literature and art.”

Jiang Qing (1914–1991) Chinese political figure and wife of Mao Zedong

Source: Speech at the Reception for the Representatives of the Beijing Workers Propaganda Team and the People's Liberation Army Propaganda Team (14 September 1968)

Jiang Qing photo

“The establishment of troops in the cultural circles has this problem: the class element is relatively complicated. But, while a person cannot decide his own origin, his performance and attitude still count.”

Jiang Qing (1914–1991) Chinese political figure and wife of Mao Zedong

Source: Talk at the Peking Forum on Literature and Art (9 and 12 November 1967)

Arundhati Roy photo
Rajiv Malhotra photo

“The point being that the influence of dharmic philosophy on Western culture runs deep and yet consistently goes unacknowledged.”

Source: Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism (2011)

Wojciech Jaruzelski photo

“The secret of mission work especially in areas with different cultures is to respect the people and the people will respect you.”

Gilles Côté (bishop) (1945) Canadian-born bishop

Source: An Exclusive Interview with Bishop Gilles Côté, SMM http://www.montfortian.info/en/blog/?an-exclusive-interview-with-bishop-gilles-côté,-smm (27 June 2018)

Neo Masisi photo

“I firmly believe in the importance to empower infertile women, who are mistreated and discriminated against in many cultures for not being able to have children and start a family.”

Neo Masisi (1962) first lady of Botswana

Neo Masisi https://www.africanews.com/2018/12/17/african-first-ladies-pledge-to-support-merck-foundation-to-empower-infertile-women-as-ambassadors/ African First ladies pledge to support Merck Foundation to empower infertile women as Ambassadors. (09/12/2019) Retrieved 5 November 2021.

Chi­ma­man­da Ngo­zi Adi­chie photo
Prevale photo

“Generosity towards others is a gesture of greatness of the soul. An inestimable human and cultural value.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) La generosità verso gli altri è un gesto di grandezza dell'anima. Un inestimabile valore umano e culturale.
Source: prevale.net

Adrianus Sunarko photo

“Indonesians must grateful for what the founding fathers have inherited through Pancasila, which stresses inclusivity in a plural society. In Indonesia, religion is challenged to learn from local cultures and not to underestimate humanity”

Adrianus Sunarko (1966) Indonesian Roman Catholic bishop

Source: Indonesian prelate becomes a theology professor https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesian-prelate-becomes-a-theology-professor/85179 (14 May 2019)

José Horacio Gómez photo

“Much has been lost in U.S. culture because of secularism. The values of the immigrants are very basic, reflecting a profound Catholicism where faith, family, and expressions of piety, etc., are part of our daily life.”

José Horacio Gómez (1951) Roman Catholic archbishop

Source: Latin Influence and the Future of the Church in U.S. https://zenit.org/2005/06/20/latin-influence-and-the-future-of-the-church-in-u-s/ (20 June 2005)

Arthur C. Clarke photo

“Maybe it’s a mark of a maturing culture, do you think, that secrets aren’t kept, that truth is told, that things are talked out?”

Source: 2000s and posthumous publications, A Time Odyssey, Firstborn (2007), Chapter 49, “Areosynchronous” (p. 313)

“There really is that role for all of us in the building of the culture of life.”

Obianuju Ekeocha (1979) Nigerian biomedical scientist

Source: https://thecatholicspirit.com/uncategorized/raised-in-a-culture-of-life-in-africa-ekeocha-brings-pro-life-message-to-the-world/ speaking on her faith

Dan Fante photo
Jeff Fortenberry photo

“The African experience of Church and community has its own dynamics and culture. The particular situation they find themselves in is more trying to fight the assaults on human dignity and human family that are being imposed upon them by the West.”

Jeff Fortenberry (1960) U.S. Representative from Nebraska

Source: Pope to Catholic lawmakers: Be strong. Protect life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/32545/pope-to-catholic-lawmakers-be-strong-protect-life (31 August 2015)

Andrea Meza photo

“Everyone with different beliefs, with different backgrounds, with different cultures, they all come together and when you are in there (at the Miss Universe pageant), you forget about politics, about your religion. It's just about embracing other women.”

Andrea Meza (1994) Miss Universe 2020

Source: Andrea Meza (2021) cited in: " In Israel, Miss Universe says pageant no place for politics https://www.arabnews.com/node/1970011/offbeat" in Arab News, 17 November 2021.

Mao Zedong photo

“The basic ideological programme of the great proletarian Cultural Revolution is 'to combat selfishness and criticize revisionism.'”

Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Source: Directives on the Cultural Revolution (1966-1972)

Michel Henry photo
Mia Mottley photo

“Our people humanized the violent, inhumane slave plantation society that the British colonialists had established, (but) we are still faced with the insidious nature of a culture that is intended to dehumanize black people wherever black or blackness is found, and our parliaments therefore, while we shall be in the vanguard of removing all laws of discrimination, it is the mental emancipation that shall forever always matter.”

Mia Mottley (1965) prime minister of Barbados

Mia Mottley (2021) cited in: " Mia Mottley: Barbados’ first female leader on a mission to transform island https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/03/mia-mottley-barbados-first-female-leader-mission-to-transform-island" in The Guardian, 3 December 2021.

Prevale photo

“Respect is one of the most elegant and cultural choices a human being can make.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Il rispetto è una delle scelte più eleganti e culturali che un essere umano possa fare.
Source: prevale.net

Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad photo
Rick Shiomi photo

“In most Asian-American families, if a son or daughter says they want to be in theater, nobody's embracing them for that. And that's a problem. Because when you're discouraging those people at that age, it reduces the number of participants in the cultural life of the community.”

Rick Shiomi (1947) Canadian writer

Source: On the cultural attitudes regarding youth who want to enter the arts in “Art Talk with Playwright & Director Rick Shiomi” https://www.arts.gov/art-works/2016/art-talk-playwright-director-rick-shiomi in Art Works Blog (2016 Mar 31)

José Manuel Imbamba photo

“It's a cultural mentality that is causing divisions, hatred and the consolidation of ignorance. Families are being destroyed, and it's getting worse because children themselves are being accused of being witches.”

José Manuel Imbamba (1965) Angolan Roman Catholic archbishop and university teacher

Pope in Angola: Fight superstition https://www.scross.co.za/2009/03/pope-in-angola-fight-superstition/ (21 March 2009)

Mao Zedong photo

“Who are our enemies and who are our friends? This is the first and foremost question of a revolution and it is also the first and foremost question of the great Cultural Revolution.”

Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

1967
Directives Regarding the Cultural Revolution (1966-1972)

“Introduction of this incubation center would help the students to develop entrepreneurship and internship culture, skill development, and job creation.”

Source: [imdb.com, Namita Priya: I am an entertainer, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12364555/, 1 June, 2020]
Source: [goodreads.com, Namita Priya: goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/namitapriya, 15 August, 2020]

“There are also blind spots in both cultures... there is no perfect culture. As we say, no one has the complete picture. We need each other to see more facets of who God really is and his call to us.”

Murray Chatlain (1963) Roman Catholic archbishop

Source: Cultural diversity: a richness for the Church http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2013/12/21/cultural_diversity_a_richness_for_the_church_/en1-757749 (21 December 2013)

“No material culture is found to move from west to east across the Indus.”

Jim G. Shaffer (1944) American archaeologist

in the relevant time period
Source: Jim Shaffer. Personal communication (to K. Elst) during the 1996 Indus-Saraswati conference in Atlanta GA., quoted in Elst, Koenraad (1999). Update on the Aryan invasion debate https://web.archive.org/web/20100412074243/http://www.bharatvani.org/books/ait/ New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan.

“‘A diffusion or migration of a culturally complex ‘Indo-Aryan‘ people into South Asia is not described by the archaeological record.‘”

Jim G. Shaffer (1944) American archaeologist

Source: Shaffer (1999:245), quoted in The Languages of Harappa. Witzel, Michael. Feb. 17, 2000.

Luciano Suriani photo

“Churches and monasteries everywhere should not be seen only as "cultural treasures" needing to be preserved materially, but also with due respect for the conditions that enable Christian communities to practice their faith freely in those centres.”

Luciano Suriani (1957) Vatican archbishop and diplomat

Source: At The Service Of Dialogue And Peace https://cordmagazine.com/interview/archbishop-luciano-suriani-apostolic-nuncio-serbia-service-dialogue-peace/ (20 November 2017)

Jose Romeo Lazo photo

“Allow our common home to rest from our throw-away culture, our addiction to consumption, to unlimited economic growth, and to the dirty and deadly fossil fuels. Let us open ourselves to the new normal of interconnectedness and interrelatedness. We are in this together.”

Jose Romeo Lazo (1949) Filipino Roman Catholic archbishop

Source: Philippine Church flags off Season of Creation https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-09/philippines-church-society-celebrate-season-creation.html (3 September 2020)

Vera Stanley Alder photo
Gerald Barbarito photo
Prevale photo

“When the intellect blends with experience, creativity, culture and curiosity, it forms a person of another level.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Quando l'intelletto si fonde con esperienza, creatività, cultura e curiosità, forma una persona di un altro livello.
Source: prevale.net

Sergey Lavrov photo
Robert A. Heinlein photo
Rollo May photo
Kyūichi Tokuda photo
Jordan Peterson photo

“You should watch when you talk to young men about responsibility. They're so thrilled about it. It just blows me away. Really?! That's what the counter-culture is? Grow up and do something useful. "Really? I can do that? Oh, I'm so excited by that idea. No one ever mentioned that before."”

Jordan Peterson (1962) Canadian clinical psychologist, cultural critic, and professor of psychology

Rights, rights, rights, rights… Jesus! It's appalling. People have had enough of that. And they better have, because it's a non-productive mode of being. Responsibility, man: that's where the meaning in life is.
Other

Susan Cain photo

“How did a nation founded on so much heartache turn into a culture of normative smiles?”

Bittersweet, Chapter 5, title, at p. 117

Wang Wenbin photo

“Freedom of speech cannot be a reason to incite racial or cultural discrimination and tear society apart. We hope Sweden can earnestly respect the religious beliefs of minority groups, including Muslims.”

Wang Wenbin (1971) Chinese diplomat

Wang Wenbin (2022) cited in " Respect religious beliefs of Muslims, China tells Sweden https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220420-respect-religious-beliefs-of-muslims-china-tells-sweden/" on Middle East Monitor, 20 April 2022.

Andrew Breitbart photo

“Politics is downstream of culture.”

Andrew Breitbart (1969–2012) American writer and publisher

Courrielche: Conservatives' Next Frontier, Daily Wire

Sophrony (Sakharov) photo
A. C. Grayling photo

“There are even more general points to be made about “cultural politics.””

A. C. Grayling (1949) English philosopher

Despite appearances in the absurd and often comic debate about “political correctness”, the concept of high culture is not the possession of the political Right, nor does rejection of “post-modernism” and its essence, relativism (rejection of which is required for defence not just of the notion but of the value of high culture), amount to rejection of a progressive political perspective. Political resistance against hegemonies of wealth, class, race and sex in the late-twentieth-century Western world has mistakenly included rejection of the idea that there are cultural and intellectual values which transcend accidental boundaries in human experience, and thereby constitute a possession for the species as a whole. It has been a cheap source of reputation for “theorists” to claim that “reality is the product of discourse”, which means that different discourses constitute different realities, and therefore the truth and value are relative. Those who mistake the politics of resentment for the politics of justice find such views useful, because they equate “high culture” with “culture of the politically and economically dominant class, race or sex”, and therefore take it that attacks on the former are attacks on the latter. One disastrous consequence is that it allows the political Right to present itself as the defender of art, literature and free intellectual speculation, whereas historically yet has it has been the right—from Plato onwards—which has sought to repress the best human endeavours in these respects, on the grounds that art, literature and the unrestricted play of reason threaten to set people free and make them equal.
Rather than attacking the idea of a culture, therefore, reflective progressives (that is or should be a pleonasm) should assert their right to the high cultural terrain, and disentangle themselves from those aspects of movements, particularly in ethnic and sexual politics, whose tendency is not to promote the realisation of a just society but satisfaction of the petty appetite for revenge on groups perceived as historical oppressors.
A better aim for progressives would be to free high culture from the citadel of inaccessibility—mainly financial—into which dominant groups have kidnapped it. They should not commit all their attention to promoting counter-culture or “mass” culture, for the excellent reason that—especially in respect of this latter—much of which passes for “mass” culture is a means of manipulating majorities into quiescence and uncritical acceptance of political and economic conditions favorable to dominant groups. This is notably the case with escapist entertainment and sports.
Source: Life, Sex, and Ideas: The Good Life Without God (2002), Chapter 17, “Cultures” (pp. 74-75)

Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel photo

“There are different cultures, different ways of thinking, different ways of living the faith and of evangelizing, but we wish to love each other as brothers and sisters, respecting our legitimate differences, and valuing each other as gifts for the Church.”

Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel (1940) Mexican bishop

Celibacy is precious gift that not everyone understands, says Mexican bishop https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/259/celibacy-is-precious-gift-that-not-everyone-understands-says-mexican-bishop (25 November 2003)

Arianna Huffington photo

“Don't forget: our media culture failed to serve the public interest by missing (with a few honourable exceptions) the two biggest stories of our time: the run-up to the Iraq war and the financial melt­down. We've had far too many autopsies and not enough biopsies.”

Arianna Huffington (1950) Greek-American author and syndicated columnist

"The paywall is history" The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/may/11/newspapers-web-media-pay-wall 11 May, 2009

Paul Hinder photo

“Although we may be different in our look, ethnicity, culture, and clothing we are all the same and want the same – faith, hope and love. Our beliefs bind us so closely, that even though we come from various backgrounds we are able to live with each other in peace and harmony.”

Paul Hinder (1942) Roman Catholic bishop, Capuchin Friar

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Ahead of Being on Papal Flight for United Arab Emirates, ZENIT Speaks with Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder https://zenit.org/2019/02/03/exclusive-interview-ahead-of-being-on-papal-flight-for-united-arab-emirates-zenit-speaks-with-apostolic-vicar-of-southern-arabia-bishop-paul-hinder-2/ (3 February 2019)

Richard Dawkins photo

“Our culture idolizes athletes, and God has really blessed my career. But at the end of the day, you want something that's eternal. We were made for so much more than fame or power, and coming to that realization has really made me say, "God, you know that’s best for me and that's what I want, too."”

Christina Wirth (1987) American basketball player

Friendship, Faith and Free Throws: Two professional basketball players to become full-time Catholic missionaries http://site.focus.org/news-for-you/february/friendship-faith-freethrows.html (2013)

Fala Chen photo

“Even while filming we knew how important it was that we get this opportunity to showcase our culture and our uniqueness, but also, as human beings, our stories, our emotions, and, at the end of the day, our humanity.”

Fala Chen (1982) Hong Kong actress

"Fala Chen Is Bringing Her Excellence to Hollywood" in Town & Country https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a37223279/fala-chen-jiang-li-shang-chi-marvel-interview/ (1 September 2021)

Gary Locke photo

“The strength of America is our diversity of people, ethnicities, cultures, languages, religions — this is the secret sauce of our dynamism and resilience.”

Gary Locke (1950) American politician

"Gary Locke keynotes anti-hate summit" in Northwest Asian Weekly https://nwasianweekly.com/2021/10/gary-locke-keynotes-anti-hate-summit/ (29 October 2021)

Gary Locke photo

“We are always open to new ideas. The incredible diversity from around the world, and that constant infusion of new ideas, cultures and perspectives, is what really makes our region so dynamic and exciting.”

Gary Locke (1950) American politician

"Interview with Former Governor Gary Locke" https://greater-seattle.com/en/2020/06/11/interview-with-former-governor-gary-locke/ (11 June 2020)

“We must retain the positive values of our culture and use them to bring people to God. The habits of revenge and conflicts among tribes must be stopped. Love your neighbors and put your faith in Christ.”

Eduardus Sangsun (1943–2008) Indonesian bishop (1943-2008)

Diocese of Ruteng Welcomes New Bishop https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1985/04/24/diocese-of-ruteng-welcomes-new-bishop&post_id=32959 (24 April 1985)

Bill Maher photo
Ayaan Hirsi Ali photo
Ayaan Hirsi Ali photo

“But the more pressing business is what feminists can do to prevent an alien culture of oppression from taking root in the West.”

Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969) Dutch feminist, author

Source: 2010s, Nomad: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations (2010), Chapter 15, “Dishonor, Death, and Feminists” (p. 231)

Elizabeth Martinez photo

“We need to see how dance, music, theater, art, poetry, are major arenas for alliance-building, especially among youth. Culture can usher in new visions”

Elizabeth Martinez (1925) American community organizer, activist, author, and educator

De Colores Means All of Us: Latina Views for a Multi-Colored Century (2017)

Elizabeth Martinez photo
Zhang Yimou photo

“The problem is that Hollywood is competition for Chinese art films. So I thought I should make a film with box office promise, that refers to Chinese culture, but also contains an art element.”

Zhang Yimou (1950) Chinese actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer

"Fighting for Peace (and Art Films), Zhang Yimou on “Hero”" in Indie Wire https://www.indiewire.com/2004/08/fighting-for-peace-and-art-films-zhang-yimou-on-hero-78697/ (27 August 2004)

Kim Stanley Robinson photo
Nguyễn Tấn Dũng photo

“The history of national defense and building with untold sweat and bloods has forged a Vietnam's vitality, a distinct cultural identity, a resilient internal strength for development, and a capability to adapt herself to the times and harmoniously co-exist with other nations in the world.”

Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (1949) Prime Minister of Vietnam

"Deputy Pm Nguyen Tan Dung Speaks At John Hopkins University" https://vietnamembassy-usa.org/relations/deputy-pm-nguyen-tan-dung-speaks-john-hopkins-university (10 December 2021)

Frank Lloyd Wright photo
Frank Lloyd Wright photo
Frank Lloyd Wright photo

“Material culture including “a cult of the horse” moves from the eastern slopes of the Urals to Central Asia, but: “There is no evidence that they reached India.””

Elena Efimovna Kuzmina (1931–2013) Russian archaeologist

Elena Kuzmina, Origin of the Indo-Iranians (Brill, Leiden). quoted in Elst, Koenraad (2018), p.452. Still no trace of an Aryan invasion: A collection on Indo-European origins.

Teal Swan photo
Prevale photo

“The cultured is curious. The ignorant, arrogant and conceited.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Il colto è curioso. L'ignorante, arrogante e presuntuoso.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“The ignorant often sin of education, arrogance and presumption. For his it is normal behave like this because he is not used to acquiring culture, according to him he is born wise and generally due to his closed nature he dies always together with his ignorance.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: L'ignorante pecca spesso di educazione, arroganza e presunzione. Per lui è normale comportarsi così perché non è abituato ad acquisire cultura, secondo lui nasce saggio e generalmente per la sua natura chiusa muore sempre insieme alla sua ignoranza.
Source: prevale.net

Ignazio Silone photo
Prevale photo

“The intelligent woman, will always be attracted by gentleness, sympathy, elegance, culture and respect. Not by appearance.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: La donna intelligente, sarà sempre attratta da dolcezza, simpatia, eleganza, cultura e rispetto. Non dall'apparenza.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“The intelligent woman, will always be attracted by gentleness, sympathy, elegance, culture and respect. Not by appearance.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: La donna intelligente, sarà sempre attratta da dolcezza, simpatia, eleganza, cultura e rispetto. Non dall'apparenza.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“Nowadays there are lucky people to have parents with healthy principles. I am very grateful to mine for teaching me education, honesty and their great culture.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: Oggigiorno esistono persone fortunate ad avere genitori con sani princìpi. Sono molto grato ai miei per avermi insegnato l'educazione, l'onestà e la loro grande cultura.
Source: prevale.net

Prevale photo

“The beauty of a woman is a combination of values: intellect, sympathy, sensuality, physique, simplicity, sweetness, charm, elegance, transgression, passion and culture. Values that make it unique in its nature.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: La bellezza di una donna è una combinazione di valori: intelletto, simpatia, sensualità, fisico, semplicità, dolcezza, fascino, eleganza, trasgressione, passione e cultura. Valori che la rendono unica nella sua natura.
Source: prevale.net

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José Baroja photo
This quote waiting for review.
José Baroja photo