---
title: "1 Civilizing Quotes By Claude McKay"
description: "1 Civilizing quotes by Claude McKay. Plus more from Claude McKay and more Civilizing sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/claude-mckay-29093_exterminate_the-europeans-fight-to-exterminate-us-an_3154894.jpg"
---

> [“The Europeans fight to exterminate us and call it civilizing us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/the-europeans-fight-to-exterminate-us-and-call-it-civilizing-us/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/claude-mckay-29093_exterminate_the-europeans-fight-to-exterminate-us-an_3154894.jpg)

## More by Claude McKay

> [And, hungry for the old, familiar ways, I turned aside and bowed my head and wept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/and-hungry-for-the-old-familiar-ways-i-turned-aside-and-bowed-my-head/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [“Newton appeared more nervously emphatic in his manner since Sunday when the Senegambians left him in his underwear and Delta had to hurry down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/newton-appeared-more-nervously-emphatic-in-his-manner-since-sunday/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [Deep in the secret chambers of my heart I muse my life-long hate, and without flinch I bear it nobly as I live my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/deep-in-the-secret-chambers-of-my-heart-i-muse-my-life-long-hate-and/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [The shivering birds beneath the eaves Have sheltered for the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/the-shivering-birds-beneath-the-eaves-have-sheltered-for-the-night/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but to each indifferent, Incongruous and strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-that-hang-like-ghosts-suspended/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [“If We Must Die If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/if-we-must-die-if-we-must-die-let-it-not-be-like-hogs-hunted-and/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [Human dignity is more precious than prestige…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/human-dignity-is-more-precious-than-prestige/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [Adventure-seasoned and storm-buffeted, I shun all signs of anchorage, because The zest of life exceeds the bound of laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/adventure-seasoned-and-storm-buffeted-i-shun-all-signs-of-anchorage/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [Nations, like plants and human beings, grow. And if the development is thwarted they are dwarfed and overshadowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/nations-like-plants-and-human-beings-grow-and-if-the-development-is/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, If we must die, O let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/if-we-must-die-let-it-not-be-like-hogs-hunted-and-penned-in-an/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [We are like trees. We wear all colors naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/we-are-like-trees-we-wear-all-colors-naturally/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [I have forgotten much, but still remember The poinsiana's red, blood-red in warm December.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/i-have-forgotten-much-but-still-remember-the-poinsiana-s-red-blood/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [If a man is not faithful to his own individuality, he cannot be loyal to anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/if-a-man-is-not-faithful-to-his-own-individuality-he-cannot-be-loyal/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [Idealism is like a castle in the air if it is not based on a solid foundation of social and political realism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/idealism-is-like-a-castle-in-the-air-if-it-is-not-based-on-a-solid/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

> [It's when you are down that you learn about your faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/it-s-when-you-are-down-that-you-learn-about-your-faults/)

[Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/)

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