--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Furthermore, the study of the present…" description: "\"Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence of the regions through which it has passed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg" --- # Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is… ![“Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence of the regions through which it has passed on its migrations, and the people with whom it came into contact, must be considered” quote by Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg) > “Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence of the regions through which it has passed on its migrations, and the people with whom it came into contact, must be considered” [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a culture requires studying its past, migrations, and contacts, not just its current state. **In simple terms:** Study history and influences, not just present. Key Takeaway Consider broader context. Themes anthropology history culture Mood analytical inquisitive Type explanatory academic When to use this quote - archaeology - museum curation - historical research Key Concepts migration contact regional influence Questions to Reflect On - How do past migrations shape current societies? - What contacts most influence cultural traits? A Different Perspective Ignores present dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-people/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Insufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufficient/) [Insufficient History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufficient-history-3379275/) [Migration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/migration/) [Migrations People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/migrations-people-3379277/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Present Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-surroundings-3379278/) [Regions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regions/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Surroundings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings/) [Surroundings Insufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surroundings-insufficient-3379276/) ## Related quotes > [“Vast migrations of people—some voluntary, most not—have shaped the human condition. More of us flee from war, oppression, and famine today than at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/vast-migrations-of-people-some-voluntary-most-not-have-shaped-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [History is a people's memory, and without a memory, man is demoted to the lower animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/history-is-a-people-s-memory-and-without-a-memory-man-is-demoted-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [History is full of people who thought they were right -- absolutely right, completely right, without a shadow of a doubt. And because history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/history-is-full-of-people-who-thought-they-were-right-absolutely/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [I read more and more and I came across this character, Caroline Weldon. 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We don't have any history of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-fairfield/essentially-any-history-we-have-is-just-a-history-of-aristocrats-we/) [Frank Fairfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-fairfield/) > [Social history might be defined negatively as the history of a people with the politics left out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-trevelyan/social-history-might-be-defined-negatively-as-the-history-of-a-people/) [G. M. Trevelyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-m-trevelyan/) > [One of the rules of history is that people do not write about what is too obvious to mention. 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How do I translate for you the name of this town as it seems to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-lord/names-are-very-important-for-humans-aren-t-they-how-do-i-translate/) [Karen Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-lord/) > [On my reading of history people who want to bring us the best are usually the people we ought to be afraid of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/on-my-reading-of-history-people-who-want-to-bring-us-the-best-are/) [Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/) > [The history of the Indians begins with the arrival of the Europeans. The history of the People begins with the beginning of the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/the-history-of-the-indians-begins-with-the-arrival-of-the-europeans/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) ## More by 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 sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/the-passion-for-seeking-the-truth-for-truth-s-sake-can-be-kept-alive/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [If we were to select the most intelligent, imaginative, energetic, and emotionally stable third of mankind, all races would be present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/if-we-were-to-select-the-most-intelligent-imaginative-energetic-and/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [We all know scientists who in private life do not come up to the standard of truthfulness, but who, nevertheless, would not consciously falsify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/we-all-know-scientists-who-in-private-life-do-not-come-up-to-the/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [We do not discuss the anatomical, physiological, and mental characteristics of man considered as an individual; but we are interested in the diversity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/we-do-not-discuss-the-anatomical-physiological-and-mental/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [The behavior of an individual is determined not by his racial affiliation, but by the character of his ancestry and his cultural environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/the-behavior-of-an-individual-is-determined-not-by-his-racial/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [It is our task to inquire into the causes that have brought about the observed differentiation, and to investigate the sequence of events that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/it-is-our-task-to-inquire-into-the-causes-that-have-brought-about-the/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [The historical development of the work of anthropologists seems to single out clearly a domain of knowledge that heretofore has not been treated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/the-historical-development-of-the-work-of-anthropologists-seems-to/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [The disease of mutual distrust among nations is the bane of modern civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/the-disease-of-mutual-distrust-among-nations-is-the-bane-of-modern/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [“I believe the present state of our knowledge justifies us in saying that, while individuals differ, biological differences are small. There is no reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/i-believe-the-present-state-of-our-knowledge-justifies-us-in-saying/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [Courtesy, modesty, good manners, conformity to definite ethical standards are universal, but what constitutes courtesy, modesty, good manners, and definite ethical standards is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/courtesy-modesty-good-manners-conformity-to-definite-ethical/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [No one has ever proved that a human being, through his descent from a certain group of people, must of necessity have certain mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/no-one-has-ever-proved-that-a-human-being-through-his-descent-from-a/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [The existence of any pure race with special endowments is a myth, as is the belief that there are races all of whose members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/the-existence-of-any-pure-race-with-special-endowments-is-a-myth-as/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [This idea was also brought out very clearly by Wallace, who emphasized that apparently reasonable activities of man might very well have developed without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/this-idea-was-also-brought-out-very-clearly-by-wallace-who-emphasized/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [ Its \[the anthropological method\] power to make us understand the roots from which our civilization has sprung, that it impresses us with the relative… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/its-the-anthropological-method-power-to-make-us-understand-the-roots/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [Not so the scientist. The very essence of his life is the service of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/not-so-the-scientist-the-very-essence-of-his-life-is-the-service-of/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) [Explore all 26 Franz Boas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) ## More Contact quotes > [Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/politics-in-philadelphia-is-a-contact-sport/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-borland/some-people-are-like-ants-give-them-a-warm-day-and-a-piece-of-ground/) [Hal Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-borland/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [The improved American highway system isolated the American-in-transit. On his speedway he had no contact with the towns which he by-passed. If he stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-improved-american-highway-system-isolated-the-american-in-transit/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [Close contact between science and the practice of collective farms and State farms creates inexhaustible opportunities for the development of theoretical knowledge, enabling us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trofim-lysenko/close-contact-between-science-and-the-practice-of-collective-farms/) [Trofim Lysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trofim-lysenko/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. 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They all crave contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sy-montgomery/i-never-met-a-pig-i-didn-t-like-all-pigs-are-intelligent-emotional/) [Sy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sy-montgomery/) [Browse all 1,740 Contact quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence of the regions through which it has passed on its migrations, and the people with whom it came into contact, must be considered", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franz Boas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-surroundings-is-insufficient-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contact" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-surroundings-is-insufficient-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/franz-boas-23198_contact_furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-sur_1168928.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence…” — Franz Boas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Franz Boas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Furthermore, the study of the present...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-surroundings-is-insufficient-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-surroundings-is-insufficient-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```