Civility Quote by Benjamin Franklin
“Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: The Pennsylvania Gazette, 1765
Critiques ethnocentric judgments of others' manners, highlighting cultural relativism.
In simple terms: We label others savages due to our bias.
Key Takeaway
Embrace cultural differences.
Themes
cultural relativism
ethnocentrism
civilization
Mood
introspective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- travel
- international work
- multicultural education
Key Concepts
anthropology
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better understand unfamiliar customs?
- What biases affect our judgments?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex societies.
