--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In spite of overwhelming evidence, it is…" description: "\"In spite of overwhelming evidence, it is most difficult for a citizen of western Europe to bring thoroughly home to himself the truth that the civilisa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/henry-james-sumner-maine-33301_citizens_in-spite-of-overwhelming-evidence-it-is_1489931.jpg" --- # In spite of overwhelming evidence, it is most difficult… ![“In spite of overwhelming evidence, it is most difficult for a citizen of western Europe to bring thoroughly home to himself the truth that the civilisation which surrounds him is a rare exception in the history of the world.” quote by Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/henry-james-sumner-maine-33301_citizens_in-spite-of-overwhelming-evidence-it-is_1489931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/henry-james-sumner-maine-33301_citizens_in-spite-of-overwhelming-evidence-it-is_1489931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/henry-james-sumner-maine-33301_citizens_in-spite-of-overwhelming-evidence-it-is_1489931.jpg) > “In spite of overwhelming evidence, it is most difficult for a citizen of western Europe to bring thoroughly home to himself the truth that the civilisation which surrounds him is a rare exception in the history of the world.” [Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james-sumner-maine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western Europeans often fail to recognize their civilization as an outlier in world history despite clear evidence. **In simple terms:** Europeans overlook their unique historical role. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about cultural uniqueness. Themes history culture perspective ethnocentrism education Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical educational When to use this quote - school curricula - travel experiences - media analysis - public debates - policy making Key Concepts civilizational analysis historical relativism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing rarity change your view of progress? - What responsibilities arise from being an exception? A Different Perspective It may underestimate the influence of global interconnections on local identities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-europe/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-history/) ## Related quotes > [At best-which is to say, even where our knowledge of a case comes to us only through courtroom evidence-it is difficult for the legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-trilling/at-best-which-is-to-say-even-where-our-knowledge-of-a-case-comes-to/) [Diana Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-trilling/) > [The strength that comes from human collaboration is the central truth behind civilisation's success and the primary reason why cities existwe must free ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-glaeser/the-strength-that-comes-from-human-collaboration-is-the-central-truth/) [Edward Glaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-glaeser/) > [But I will argue that knowing complete product requirements up front is a quite rare exception, not the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-brooks/but-i-will-argue-that-knowing-complete-product-requirements-up-front/) [Fred Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-brooks/) > [You cannot have both truth and what you call civilisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/you-cannot-have-both-truth-and-what-you-call-civilisation/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [...That genius is a rare exception (:) It's not true. 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This is urgent for our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/they-leaders-in-western-europe-do-not-misuse-financial-instruments/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Currently intellectuals in Western Europe and North America are extremely demoralized and shaken by the rise of a virulent conservative tendency (which some have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/currently-intellectuals-in-western-europe-and-north-america-are/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [In North America and Western Europe, ten percent of the population of the world consumes fifty percent of its energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-levi/in-north-america-and-western-europe-ten-percent-of-the-population-of/) [Yehuda Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-levi/) > [Many people in the United States happen to believe that United States policy is wrong in Vietnam and the Vietcong are correct in wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/many-people-in-the-united-states-happen-to-believe-that-united-states/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) ## More by Henry James Sumner Maine > [The epoch of Customary Law, and of its custody by a privileged order, is a very remarkable one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james-sumner-maine/the-epoch-of-customary-law-and-of-its-custody-by-a-privileged-order/) [Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james-sumner-maine/) > [The most superficial student of Roman history must be struck by the extraordinary degree in which the fortunes of the republic were affected by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james-sumner-maine/the-most-superficial-student-of-roman-history-must-be-struck-by-the/) [Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james-sumner-maine/) > [The inquiries of the jurist are in truth prosecuted much as inquiry in physic and physiology was prosecuted before observation had taken the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james-sumner-maine/the-inquiries-of-the-jurist-are-in-truth-prosecuted-much-as-inquiry/) [Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james-sumner-maine/) > [The members of such a society consider that the transgression of a religious ordinance should be punished by civil penalties, and that the violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james-sumner-maine/the-members-of-such-a-society-consider-that-the-transgression-of-a/) [Henry James Sumner Maine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james-sumner-maine/) > [Law is stable the societies we are speaking of are progressive. 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