#societies

For anyone inclined to caricature environmental history as 'environmental determinism,' the contrasting histories of the Dominican Republic and Haiti provide a useful antidote. Yes, environmental problems do constrain human societies, but the societies' responses also make a difference. ↗

— Jared Diamond

#environment #environmental-determinism #history #societies #environmentalism

Our heroes are fighting to bring stability to the Middle East, and they have put pressure on all of the tyrannies of the Middle East. They have taken a stand against tyranny, against terrorists, and for the prospect of decent societies throughout that region. ↗

— Orrin Hatch

#bring #decent #east #fighting #heroes

There is very strong historical data that suggests the way societies grow is by making large, long-term investments. ↗

— Fareed Zakaria

#grow #historical #investments #large #long-term

Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics. ↗

— David Attenborough

#come #doing #economics #individuals #many

I've benefited from the best of both societies and both cultures, East and West. ↗

— King Abdullah II

#best #both #cultures #east #i

Why in almost all societies have married women specialized in bearing and rearing children and in certain agricultural activities, whereas married men have done most of the fighting and market work? ↗

— Gary Becker

#activities #agricultural #almost #bearing #certain

The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, the finish by loading honors on your head. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#beat #begins #fails #finish #first

Happiness is a real, objective phenomenon, scientifically verifiable. That means people and whole societies can now be measured over time and compared accurately with one another. Causes and cures for unhappiness can be quantified. ↗

— Polly Toynbee

#another #causes #compared #cures #happiness

But you will understand by yourselves that the matter applies equally well to the organization of the officials of justice, of administrative officials, etc; these are likewise organized instruments of power in certain societies. ↗

— Ferdinand Lassalle

#applies #certain #equally #etc #instruments

I went back to graduate school with the clear intention that what I wanted to do with my life was to improve societies, and the way to do that was to find out what made economies work the way they did or fail to work. ↗

— Douglass North

#clear #did #economies #fail #find