What we fear most is often what we need most to understand. - Mary Douglas

"What we fear most is often what we need most to understand."

Mary Douglas Courage

Anthropologist British 1921–2007

More from Mary Douglas

"Purity and danger are not intrinsic qualities of things, but classifications depending on how we view the world."

"The abominations of Leviticus make sense once you understand the dietary laws are about maintaining categories."

"Pollution is a matter of perspective and social order."

"What is unclassified is dangerous because it threatens our understanding of the world."

"Never let fear stop you from chasing your dreams."

"Courage is being afraid but doing it anyway."

"Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do."

"Sometimes you have to be the monster to stop the monsters."