Margaret Mead

Another stirring profession of belief from yesteryear, this one from anthropologist Margaret Mead:

I believe that to understand human beings it is necessary to think of them as part of the whole living world. Our essential humanity depends not only on the complex biological structure which has been developed through the ages from very simple beginnings, but also upon the great social inventions which have been made by human beings, perpetuated by human beings, and in turn give human beings their stature as builders, thinkers, statesmen, artists, seers, and prophets.

We're "part of the whole living world," obviously. Just as obviously, the whole living world has yet to absorb this truth. We have a lot more building and thinking (etc.) to do, but it's great to have this radio archive of role models.