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William Graham Sumner

William Graham Sumner Quotes

Political scientist

William Graham Sumner was an influential American political scientist born on October 30, 1840, and died on April 12, 1910. He was a leading figure in social Darwinism and had a profound impact on American political thought from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

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All Men Ifs Forgotten Want Pay Social States War Class Doctrine Humans Made Order People Political Vices Cases Doe Duty Earth

Famous William Graham Sumner Quotes

“If you want a war, nourish a doctrine. Doctrines are the most frightful tyrants to which men are ever subject, because doctrines get inside a man's reason and betray him against himself. Civilized men have done their fiercest fighting for doctrines.”

Ifs Men Want War Reason Done Fighting Atheism Subjects Betrayal Positive Atheism Doctrine Civilized Tyrants Betray

Book:Social Darwinism: selected essays

Source: Social Darwinism: selected essays

“Here we are, then, once more back at the old doctrine - Laissez faire. Let us translate it into blunt English, and it will read, Mind your own business. It is nothing but the doctrine of liberty. Let every man be happy in his own way.”

Men Way Mind Liberty Every Man Doctrine Translate Own Business Blunt Laissez Faire Mind Your Own Business Mind Your Own

Book:What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Source: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

“It is remarkable that jealousy of individual property in land often goes along with very exaggerated doctrines of tribal or national property in land.”

Individual Land Property Doctrine Jealousy Remarkable Exaggerated

Book:What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Source: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

“If you want war, nourish a doctrine. Doctrines are the most frightful tyrants to which men ever are subject.”

Ifs Men Want War Peace Subjects Doctrine Tyrants Anti War Antiwar

Book:War and Other Essays

Source: War and Other Essays

“I never have known a man of ordinary common-sense who did not urge upon his sons, from earliest childhood, doctrines of economy and the practice of accumulation.”

Men Common Known Practice Economy Childhood Son Ordinary Doctrine Common Sense Urges Accumulation

Book:What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Source: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

“Gentlemen, the time is coming when there will be two great classes, Socialists, and Anarchists. The Anarchists want the government to be nothing, and the Socialists want the government to be everything. There can be no greater contrast. Well, the time will come when there will be only these two great parties, the Anarchists representing the laissez faire doctrine and the Socialists representing the extreme view on the other side, and when that time comes I am an Anarchist.”

Want Wells Two Government Sides Views Party Class Greater Extremes Doctrine Gentleman Contrast Anarchist Representing Laissez Faire Great Party

Author:William Graham Sumner

About the Author

Born: October 30, 1840
Died: April 12, 1910
Known for: Political scientist
Quotes: 87

Related Topics

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Books & Sources

What Social Classes Owe to Each OtherRelated source material

Selected Essays of William Graham SumnerRelated source material

The Forgotten Man and Other EssaysRelated source material

War and Other EssaysRelated source material

Folkways: A Study of Mores, Manners, Customs and MoralsRelated source material

Social Darwinism: selected essaysRelated source material

The Forgotten Man's Almanac: Rations of Common Sense from William Graham SumnerRelated source material

The Forgotten Man: And Other EssaysRelated source material

The challenge of facts: and other essaysRelated source material

Earth-hunger and other essaysRelated source material

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