Home / Authors / William Graham Sumner

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.

Filter quotes by topic

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

“A wiser rule would be to make up your mind soberly what you want, peace or war, and then to get ready for what you want; for what we prepare for is what we shall get.”

Want Mind War Would Be Decision Ready What You Want Wiser Make Up Your Mind

Book:Social Darwinism: selected essays

Source: Social Darwinism: selected essays

“The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.”

War Force Mass Forging

Book:The challenge of facts: and other essays

Source: The challenge of facts: and other essays

“I have lived through the best years of this country's history. The next generations are going to see war and social calamities. I am glad I don't have to live on into them.”

Years War Country Next Social Generations Glad Next Generation Calamity Best Year

Author:William Graham Sumner

“If America becomes militant, it will be because its people choose to become such; it will be because they think that war and warlikeness are desirable.”

People Ifs Thinking War America Peace Anti War Antiwar Desirable Militant

Book:War and Other Essays

Source: War and Other Essays

“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

“We live in a war of two antagonistic ethical philosophies, the ethical policy taught in the books and schools, and the success policy.”

Two Book War Philosophy School Virtue Policy Taught Ethical

Book:Folkways: A Study of Mores, Manners, Customs and Morals

Source: Folkways: A Study of Mores, Manners, Customs and Morals

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

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

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

Similar Authors

Thomas CarlyleBrowse related quotes
Warren FarrellBrowse related quotes
H. L. MenckenBrowse related quotes
Theodore RooseveltBrowse related quotes
Jean de la BruyereBrowse related quotes
Thomas HobbesBrowse related quotes
Woodrow WilsonBrowse related quotes
Ayn RandBrowse related quotes
Jean-Jacques RousseauBrowse related quotes
Samuel JohnsonBrowse related quotes