--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While we maintain the unity of the human…" description: "\"“While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at the same time repel the depressing assumption of superior and inferior races of men. There are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/alexander-von-humboldt-25783_civilized_while-we-maintain-the-unity-of-the-human_1953476.png" --- # While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at… ![“While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at the same time repel the depressing assumption of superior and inferior races of men. There are nations more susceptible of cultivation, more highly civilized, more ennobled by mental cultivation than others—but none in themselves nobler than…” quote by Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/alexander-von-humboldt-25783_civilized_while-we-maintain-the-unity-of-the-human_1953476.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/alexander-von-humboldt-25783_civilized_while-we-maintain-the-unity-of-the-human_1953476.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/alexander-von-humboldt-25783_civilized_while-we-maintain-the-unity-of-the-human_1953476.png) > ““While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at the same time repel the depressing assumption of superior and inferior races of men. There are nations more susceptible of cultivation, more highly civilized, more ennobled by mental cultivation than others—but none in themselves nobler than others.”” [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity shares a common unity, yet cultural differences exist; no race is inherently superior, though some societies may be more cultivated. **In simple terms:** All humans are equal despite cultural differences. Key Takeaway Promote equality and cultural respect. Themes equality culture human unity Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical social When to use this quote - education - policy making - international relations Key Concepts anthropology social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How can we celebrate diversity without hierarchy? - What defines cultural cultivation? A Different Perspective Risk of generalizing 'cultivation' as superiority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) [Civilized Ennobled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized-ennobled-3183771/) [Cultivation Nobler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivation-nobler-3183770/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Homo sapiens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homo-sapiens/) [Human species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-species/) [Humanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanism/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Inferior Races](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferior-races-2870372/) [Mental Cultivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-cultivation-1781782/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) ## Related quotes > [Next to selfishness the principal cause which makes life unsatisfactory is want of mental cultivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/next-to-selfishness-the-principal-cause-which-makes-life/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [It must be stressed that there is nothing insulting about looking at people as animals. We are animals, after all. Homo sapiens is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/it-must-be-stressed-that-there-is-nothing-insulting-about-looking-at/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [“It’s a common fallacy to envision these species as arranged in a straight line of descent, with Ergaster begetting Erectus, Erectus begetting the Neanderthals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/it-s-a-common-fallacy-to-envision-these-species-as-arranged-in-a/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“An evolutionary perspective of our place in the history of the earth reminds us that Homo sapiens sapiens has occupied the planet for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-leakey/an-evolutionary-perspective-of-our-place-in-the-history-of-the-earth/) [Richard E. Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-leakey/) > [“There are no superior or inferior races. No one is intrinsically inferior or superior. All have the same value as creatures of god. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/there-are-no-superior-or-inferior-races-no-one-is-intrinsically/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Our race is the Master Race. we are divine gods on this planet. We are as different from the inferior races as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/our-race-is-the-master-race-we-are-divine-gods-on-this-planet-we-are/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [“A library of books like Madison Grant’s The Passing of the Great Race (1916) warned the Americans that they could not safely continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-brogan/a-library-of-books-like-madison-grant-s-the-passing-of-the-great-race/) [Hugh Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-brogan/) > [“Of all the problems which will have to be faced in the future, in my opinion, the most difficult will be those concerning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-darwin/of-all-the-problems-which-will-have-to-be-faced-in-the-future-in-my/) [Leonard Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-darwin/) > [ I repeat that superior races have a right \[to establish colonies\], because they have a duty. They have the duty to civilize inferior races. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-ferry/i-repeat-that-superior-races-have-a-right-to-establish-colonies/) [Jules Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-ferry/) > [“The anthropologists got it wrong when they named our species Homo sapiens ('wise man'). In any case it's an arrogant and bigheaded thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-anthropologists-got-it-wrong-when-they-named-our-species-homo/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Archaic humans paid for their large brains in two ways. Firstly, they spent more time in search of food. Secondly, their muscles atrophied. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/archaic-humans-paid-for-their-large-brains-in-two-ways-firstly-they/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [I firmly believe that contemporary spiritual use of entheogenic drugs is one of humankind's brightest hopes for overcoming the ecological crisis from which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ott/i-firmly-believe-that-contemporary-spiritual-use-of-entheogenic-drugs/) [Jonathan Ott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ott/) > [The extinction of Homo Sapiens would mean survival for millions, if not billions, of Earth-dwelling species. Phasing out the human race will solve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-extinction-of-homo-sapiens-would-mean-survival-for-millions-if/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [“Homo sapiens is only man, in the fullest sense of the word, when his grammar contains no question marks, only exclamation marks, commas, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/homo-sapiens-is-only-man-in-the-fullest-sense-of-the-word-when-his/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) ## More by Alexander von Humboldt > [The most powerful influence exercised by the Arabs on general natural physics was that directed to the advances of chemistry ; a science for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/the-most-powerful-influence-exercised-by-the-arabs-on-general-natural/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [“There are three stages of scientific discovery: first people deny it is true; then they deny it is important; finally they credit the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/there-are-three-stages-of-scientific-discovery-first-people-deny-it/) [Alexander Von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [People often say that I'm curious about too many things at once... But can you really forbid a man from harbouring a desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/people-often-say-that-i-m-curious-about-too-many-things-at-once-but/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Mere communion with nature, mere contact with the free air, exercise a soothing yet comforting and strengthening influence on the wearied mind, calm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/mere-communion-with-nature-mere-contact-with-the-free-air-exercise-a/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [There are some races more cultured and advanced and ennobled by education than others; but there are no races nobler than others. All are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/there-are-some-races-more-cultured-and-advanced-and-ennobled-by/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [“This view of a living nature where man is nothing is both odd and sad. Here, in a fertile land, in an eternal greenness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/this-view-of-a-living-nature-where-man-is-nothing-is-both-odd-and-sad/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [The expression of vanity and self-love becomes less offensive, when it retains something of simplicity and frankness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/the-expression-of-vanity-and-self-love-becomes-less-offensive-when-it/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [At no other time has Nature concentrated such a wealth of valuable nourishment into such a small space as in the cocoa bean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/at-no-other-time-has-nature-concentrated-such-a-wealth-of-valuable/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Before being free, it is necessary to be just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/before-being-free-it-is-necessary-to-be-just/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [“What speaks to the soul, escapes our measurements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/what-speaks-to-the-soul-escapes-our-measurements/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Petroleum is the product of a distillation from great depth and issues from the primitive rocks beneath which the forces of all volcanic action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/petroleum-is-the-product-of-a-distillation-from-great-depth-and/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are united.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/true-enjoyment-comes-from-activity-of-the-mind-and-exercise-of-the/) [Alexander Von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Our imagination is struck only by what is great; but the lover of natural philosophy should reflect equally on little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/our-imagination-is-struck-only-by-what-is-great-but-the-lover-of/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Cruelty to animals is one of the most significant vices of a low and ignoble people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/cruelty-to-animals-is-one-of-the-most-significant-vices-of-a-low-and/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Statistical projections which speak to the senses without fatiguing the mind, possess the advantage of fixing the attention on a great number of important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/statistical-projections-which-speak-to-the-senses-without-fatiguing/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) [Explore all 21 Alexander von Humboldt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) ## More Civilized quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) [Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [War is not civilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/war-is-not-civilized/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Mine was, as it were, the connecting link between wild and cultivated fields; as some states are civilized, and others half-civilized, and others savage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/mine-was-as-it-were-the-connecting-link-between-wild-and-cultivated/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The military mind is indeed a menace. Old-fashioned futurity that sees only men fighting and dying in smoke and fire; hears nothing more civilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-casey/the-military-mind-is-indeed-a-menace-old-fashioned-futurity-that-sees/) [Sean O'Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-casey/) > [As long as there are prisons, police, armies, navies; we are not civilized. When the Earth joins together and uses the Earth intelligently, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/as-long-as-there-are-prisons-police-armies-navies-we-are-not/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [We're all intrigued, in our civilized world that we live in, and curious about how we would get on, on an undiscovered island that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/we-re-all-intrigued-in-our-civilized-world-that-we-live-in-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The malady of civilized man is his knowledge of death. The good artist, like the wise man, addresses himself to life and invests with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-malady-of-civilized-man-is-his-knowledge-of-death-the-good-artist/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Savage peoples are ruled by passion, civilized peoples by the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/savage-peoples-are-ruled-by-passion-civilized-peoples-by-the-mind/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) [Browse all 1,043 Civilized quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at the same time repel the depressing assumption of superior and inferior races of men. 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