Anthropologists and Other Scientist Quotes
Matt Cartmill on Why He Became a Scientist
Anthropologist Matt Cartmill describes his underlying principles on becoming a scientist, even if it didn't quite work out the way he wanted it to.
Lund and Benediktsson on Remembering We Inhabit the Earth
the impact of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland in March 2010 had a jarring effect on all of us, say Lund and Benediktsson in this quotation from Anthropology Today.
Steve Russell on the Repatriation Movement
In 1997, I interviewed Cherokee historian Steve Russell on the history of the repatriation movement. Here's a pithy comment of his on the underlying purpose of the movement.
Clarice Stasz Stoll on Collective Forgetfulness
The historian Clarice Stasz Stoll is credited with this observation about how women are left out of the discussion.
Anubha Charan on Digging Up Holy Places
In a 2004 article in History Today, writer Anubha Charan discusses the logic of destroying a building to correct a wrong that might have occurred half a millennium ago.
William Schlesinger on Global Stewardship
A quotation from biogeochemist William Schlesinger on what hinders global stewardship.
Camille Parmesan: Why Is Climate Change Insurmountable?
This quotation is from a 2008 article in the journal Daedalus by biologist Camille Parmesan called "Where the wild things were", and while it is not strictly speaking about archaeology, it does speak to something archaeologists and everybody else should be concerned about.
Susan Crate on Climate Change and Advocacy
Anthropologist Susan Crate discusses the role of anthropology in advocating for climate change's effects on indigenous communities
Loren Eiseley on Melancholy Secrets
Philosopher Loren Eiseley (1907-1977) was a wonderful writer of natural and cultural matters. Here's a quotation from his book The Night Country
Camille Parmesan: Why Is Climate Change Insurmountable?
This quotation is from a 2008 article in the journal Daedalus by biologist Camille Parmesan called "Where the wild things were", and while it is not strictly speaking about archaeology, it does speak to something archaeologists and everybody else should be concerned about.
Jill Lepore Defines History in Seven Words
At the Ignoble Awards for 2007, historian Jill Lepore defined history in seven words.
Kenneth Weiss on Defining Evolution
Anthropologist Kenneth Weiss describes some of the lessons from the 1922 Scopes trial.
Lord and Turekian on the Diplomacy of Science
In a February 9, 2007 issue of Science magazine, Kristin Lord and Vaughn Turekian propose that scientists take a more active role in diplomacy.
Lord Acton on What Makes a Country Free
From John E. E. Dalberg, Lord Acton, in his adress to the Members of the Bridgnorth Institute, Frebruary 26, 1877, entitled The History of Freedom in Antiquity.
Keith Bassett on the New Intellectual
An archaeology-related quote from a 1996 article by geographer/economist Keith Bassett in Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, entitled Postmodernism and the crisis of the intellectual.
Charles Austin Beard on Seeing Stars
Charles Austin Beard was a remarkable historian with a witty turn of phrase. This attributed quote is said to have been in response to a request for a book on the lessons of history.
Charles Austin Beard Quotes Hari Seldon
A 1933 quote from historian Charles Austin Beard seems to suggest a source for Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy and his hero Hari Seldon.
Ruth Benedict on the Purpose of Anthropology
Anthropologist Ruth Benedict on why she believes the study of anthropology is a useful one.
Henri Louis Bergson on Present Effects and Pasts Causes
French philosopher Henri Bergson wrote the book Creative Evolution, and that is where this pithy comment on the relationship between the past and present can be found.
Edward Bruner on Interpreting Tourism
Historian and philosopher Edward Bruner considers the modern day implications of tourism.
William Calvin on the Big Bang of Human Evolution
Neuroscientist William Calvin describes the explosion of modernity in human beings, from this 2004 article in Natural History.
Edward Hallett Carr on History's Dialogue
A quote from historian Edward Hallet Carr's 1961 book, What Is History?
Cyril Connolly on the Sweet Smell of the Past
British author and critic Cyril Connolly's mot on the past.
Clarence Darrow on Hunching the World Along
Clarence Darrow was a terrific lawyer with an outlook for what great changes were made by the rebels in us.
Charles Darwin on Useful Observations
This quote was taken from an 1861 letter from Charles Darwin to Harry Fawcett; and it shows how the (r)evolutionary scholar contemplated his findings
Robert A. Dodgshon on the End of Time
Geographer Robert Dodgshon comments on our sense of the past
Marcus A. Doel and David B. Clarke on Post-Modern Fatigue Syndrome
Witty geographers Marcus A. Doel and David B. Clarke comment on the ennui brought on by the post-modern generation.
Will Durant on Geological Consent
The importance of Will and Ariel Durant as influential American historians and philosophers has probably been understated. Here is a witty quip from The Story of Philosophy (1926).
Will Durant on Clever Things to Say
A quotation atributed to the beloved American historian Will Durant on the importance of keeping your own counsel.
Albert Einstein on the Cosmic Religious Experience of Science
Physicist Albert Einstein was surely one of our most important philosophers--not such an odd combination, by his lights.
Donna Gabaccia on the Immigrant Paradigm
This quote comes from historian Donna Gabaccia's 1999 article in the Journal of American History, "Is everywhere nowhere? Nomads, nations, and the immigrant paradigm of United States history."
Michael Goodchild on Maintaining Intellectual Depth
Geographer Michael Goodchild comments on esoteric academic studies.
Stephen Jay Gould on Creationist's Need for Miracles
Stephen Jay Gould is one of the most accessible scientists on the planet; and a very good one indeed.
Stephen Jay Gould on Non-Overlapping Magisteria
Stephen Jay Gould comments on the difference between science and religion in a quote from a 1999 essay in Skeptical Inquirer.
Paul Grobstein on Being Progressively Less Wrong
Biologist and philosopher Paul Grobstein believes that science can progress, but only if we place less value on being right.
L. P. Hartley on Foreign Countries
Playwright L. P. Hartley describes where he thinks the past is.
Jennifer Hochschild on True Science
Political scientist Jennifer Hochschild muses on what makes a science, even a social science, a real gain in knowledge and insight.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. on Inheritances
From poet and essayist Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.'s book Elsie Venner, a quote blasting the Spanish inquisition.
Aldous Huxley on the Morphia of Science
The British author of Brave New World exhibits a deep affinity for the seductions of science.
T.H. Huxley on Choosing One's Ancestors
Thomas Huxley was known as Darwin's bulldog; this quotation is said to have come from a confrontation over evolution between Huxley and Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford.
Hypatia of Alexandria on Preparing for the Future
Hypatia of Alexandria was a mathematician and the last scholar to lead the universities in the city of Alexandria before they burned along with the library in the 5th century AD.
W.R. Inge on Being an Historian
This is a 1929 quote from the then-dean of St. Paul's, William Ralph Inge, on why being an historian is such a great job.
Randall Jarrell on Indispensable Warfare
American poet Randall Jarrell had some pithy words about war and questioning
A. L. Kroeber on Anthropology's Charm
Anthropologist A. L. Kroeber is known for many things, including this observation from his choice of careers.
Claude Levi-Strauss on the Richness of the Past
Anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss weighs in on the immense riches of the human race, from Tristes Tropiques.
Tommaso Marinetti on Our Most Dangerous Prevaricator
A quote from the Italian playwright Tommaso Marinetti
Friedrich Nietzsche on the Ancient Part of Human History
Nihilist Friedrich Nietzsche comments on the ancient pain of human history.
Wendell Phillips on the Roots of Revolution
The abolitionist and orator Wendell Phillips was an eloquent speaker, and knew what words could do.
Joseph Ransdell on New Concepts of Science
In the late 1990s, the first public discussion of open source publishing was held in the September Forum of the American Scienctist.
Carl Sagan on the Library of Alexandria
Astronomer Carl Sagan was a great populizer of science, for which we should be truly grateful. Here's his lament about ancient disasters.
Simon Schama on a Historian's Doom
A quote from historian Simon Schama on what it likes to be a historian, quote 57 in the archaeology quote collection.
Arthur Schlesinger on History's Effect on the Present
Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. made these remarks on history in the New York Times magazine.
Moishe Shokeid, on Melding Anthropologist and Informant
Anthropologist Moishe Shokeid discusses the struggle between the anthropologist and the people she or he talks to.
Maxine Singer on the Thread Holding Us Together
A quote from neuroscientist Maxine Singer, president of the Carnegie Institute, on what thread holds the sciences together.
J. William Schopf on Our Honored Ancestors
Biologist J. William Schopf is credited with this succinct put down to the pride of nations.
Gerald t'Hooft on Where Paranormal Phenomena Occur
From the skeptical Gerald t'Hooft, a comment on why scientists don't take paranormal phenomena more seriously.
Arnold J. Toynbee on Using History Well
British historian A. J. Toynbee was the author of the massive A Study of History, and was well aware of the uses it can be put to.
George Walden on Countries Lacking Vision
British Conservative politician George Walden commented on the vision granted by history.
Anthony F. C. Wallace Asks: When is Now?
Historian and writer Anthony F. C. Wallace made this observation about the slipperiness of time in an interview for Ethnohistory.
Mary Webb on What is Invisible and Mute
British author Mary Webb muses on precious infinites.
Alfred North Whitehead on Advancing Civilization
This is one of my favorite quotes from anybody at any given time; from philosopher and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead.
Ronald Wright on the Fascination of Cannibalism
This quotation is attributed to historian and author Ronald Wright.