Franz Boas

The passion for seeking the truth for truth's sake...can be kept alive only if we continue to seek the truth for truth's…

— Franz Boas

If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.

— Franz Boas

We all know scientists who in private life do not come up to the standard of truthfulness, but who, nevertheless, would not…

— Franz Boas

We do not discuss the anatomical, physiological, and mental characteristics of man considered as an individual; but we are interested in the…

— Franz Boas

The behavior of an individual is determined not by his racial affiliation, but by the character of his ancestry and his cultural…

— Franz Boas

It is our task to inquire into the causes that have brought about the observed differentiation, and to investigate the sequence of…

— Franz Boas

Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence of the regions through which it…

— Franz Boas

The historical development of the work of anthropologists seems to single out clearly a domain of knowledge that heretofore has not been…

— Franz Boas

The disease of mutual distrust among nations is the bane of modern civilization

— Franz Boas

“I believe the present state of our knowledge justifies us in saying that, while individuals differ, biological differences are small. There is…

— Franz Boas

Courtesy, modesty, good manners, conformity to definite ethical standards are universal, but what constitutes courtesy, modesty, good manners, and definite ethical standards…

— Franz Boas

No one has ever proved that a human being, through his descent from a certain group of people, must of necessity have…

— Franz Boas

The existence of any pure race with special endowments is a myth, as is the belief that there are races all of…

— Franz Boas

This idea was also brought out very clearly by Wallace, who emphasized that apparently reasonable activities of man might very well have…

— Franz Boas

Its [the anthropological method] power to make us understand the roots from which our civilization has sprung, that it impresses us with…

— Franz Boas

Not so the scientist. The very essence of his life is the service of truth.

— Franz Boas

Remember that in every single case in history the process of adaptation has been one of exceeding slowness. Do not look for…

— Franz Boas

I object to teaching of slogans intended to befog the mind, of whatever kind they may be

— Franz Boas

It is clear, from these considerations, that the three methods of classifying mankind-that according to physical characters, according to language, and according…

— Franz Boas

In other words, we are interested in the anatomical and mental characteristics of men living under the same biological, geographical, and social…

— Franz Boas

There is no fundamental difference in the ways of thinking of primitive and civilized man. A close connection between race and personality…

— Franz Boas

Anthropology has reached that point of development where the careful investigation of facts shakes our firm belief in the far-reaching theories that…

— Franz Boas

In France, that let down the barriers more than a hundred years ago, the feeling of antipathy is still strong enough to…

— Franz Boas

My father had retained an emotional affection for the ceremonial of his parental home, without allowing it to influence his intellectual freedom

— Franz Boas

I hope I may have succeeded in presenting to you, however imperfectly, the currents of thought due to the work of the…

— Franz Boas