The question of the family now divides our society so deeply that the opposing sides cannot even agree on a definition of the institution they are arguing about. – Christopher Lasch

Liberals subscribe to the new flexible, pluralistic definition of the family their defense of families carries no conviction. – Christopher Lasch
Most of these alternative arrangements, so-called, arise out of the ruins of marriages, not as an improvement of old fashioned marriage. – Christopher Lasch
From very early on in my childhood – four, five years old – I felt alien to the human race. I felt very comfortable with thinking I was from another planet, because I felt disconnected – I was very tall and skinny, and I didnt look like anybody else, I didnt even look like any member of my family. – Patti Smith
Women are, in my view, natural peacemakers. As givers and nurturers of life, through their focus on human relationships and their engagement with the demanding work of raising children and protecting family life, they develop a deep sense of empathy that cuts through to underlying human realities. – Daisaku Ikeda
