"Far from being the basis of the good society, the family, with its narrow privacy and tawdry secrets, is the source of all our discontents"

This quote by Edmund Leach suggests that the family, which is frequently seen as the structure of a great society, is in fact the source of many of our discontents. Leach indicates that the family's "narrow privacy" and "tawdry secrets" are the cause of our misery. He recommends that the household's tendency to keep secrets and preserve a certain level of personal privacy can result in a lack of understanding and communication in between member of the family, which can cause discontent. This quote indicates that the household is not the ideal structure for an excellent society, as it can cause an absence of understanding and interaction in between family members, which can lead to unhappiness. Leach's quote suggests that the family is not the perfect structure for an excellent society, which it can cause a lack of understanding and interaction in between family members, which can result in discontent.