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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

“In England pensions used to be given to aristocrats, because aristocrats had political influence, in order to corrupt them. Here pensions are given to the great democratic mass, because they have political power, to corrupt them.”

Political Used Order Given Influence Mass England Democratic Used To Be Political Power Pension Political Influence

Book:What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Source: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

“In the New Testament it is taught that willing and voluntary service to others is the highest duty and glory in human life. . . . The men of talent are constantly forced to serve the rest. They make the discoveries and inventions, order the battles, write the books, and produce the works of art. The benefit and enjoyment go to the whole. There are those who joyfully order their own lives so that they may serve the welfare of mankind.”

Source: Folkways - A Study Of The Sociological Importance Of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores And Morals

“All history is only one long story to this effect: men have struggled for power over their fellow-men in order that they might win the joys of earth at the expense of others and might shift the burdens of life from their own shoulders upon those of others.”

Men Long Stories Might Earth Joy Order Winning Effects Fellows Burden Shoulders Expenses Fellow Man Long Story Burdens Of Life

Book:The Forgotten Man: And Other Essays

Source: The Forgotten Man: And Other Essays

“History is only a tiresome repetition of one story. Persons and classes have sought to win possession of the power of the State in order to live luxuriously out of the earnings of others”

Persons States Stories Order Winning Class Possession Earning Repetition Tiresome

Book:What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Source: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

“The invectives against capital in the hands of those who have it are double-faced, and when turned about are nothing but demands for capital in the hands of those who have it not, in order that they may do with it just what those who have it now are doing with it.”

May Hands Order Justice Demand

Book:Selected Essays of William Graham Sumner

Source: Selected Essays of William Graham Sumner

About the Author

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

Related Topics

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

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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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