“Ideals are very often formed in the effort to escape from the hard task of dealing with facts, which is the function of science and art. There is no process by which to reach an ideal. There are no tests by which to verify it. It is therefore impossible to frame a proposition about an ideal which can be proved or disproved. It follows that the use of ideals is to be strictly limited to proper cases, and that the attempt to use ideals in social discussion does not deserve serious consideration.”
Quote by William Graham Sumner
Work
Folkways: A Study of Mores, Manners, Customs and Morals
This book delves into the various aspects of human social conduct, exploring the underlying principles that govern mores, manners, customs, and morals across different societies. more
Author
William Graham Sumner
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. more
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