--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more we study the Indian's character…" description: "\"The more we study the Indian's character the more we appreciate the marked distinction between the civilized being and the real savage.\" — Nelson A. Miles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/nelson-a-miles-28355_appreciate_the-more-we-study-the-indian-s-character_969431.jpg" --- # The more we study the Indian's character the more we… ![“The more we study the Indian's character the more we appreciate the marked distinction between the civilized being and the real savage.” quote by Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/nelson-a-miles-28355_appreciate_the-more-we-study-the-indian-s-character_969431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/nelson-a-miles-28355_appreciate_the-more-we-study-the-indian-s-character_969431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/nelson-a-miles-28355_appreciate_the-more-we-study-the-indian-s-character_969431.jpg) > “The more we study the Indian's character the more we appreciate the marked distinction between the civilized being and the real savage.” [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying cultures reveals that so-called “civilized” societies often mask primal instincts, blurring the line between civilization and savagery. **In simple terms:** Civilization and savagery are not clearly separate. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about cultural superiority. Themes civilization human nature colonialism Mood critical analytical skeptical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - education - policy making - cross‑cultural communication - historical analysis Key Concepts anthropology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What defines “civilized” versus “savage”? - How do power dynamics shape these labels? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizing can ignore individual variation within cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to make an Indian character who wasn't either a) the savage that must be eliminated, the force of nature that's blocking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-wanted-to-make-an-indian-character-who-wasn-t-either-a-the-savage/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [“Adversity and hardship are the building stones of character. How can you appreciate good times and savor happiness if you have never dealt with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-wood/adversity-and-hardship-are-the-building-stones-of-character-how-can/) [Rob Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-wood/) > [The opulence and grandeur of a lot of period drama really helps you get into character and appreciate the luxury of good quality. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-wallis/the-opulence-and-grandeur-of-a-lot-of-period-drama-really-helps-you/) [Annabelle Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-wallis/) > [I have known the Indians intimately - known them in their private relations - I think I understand the Indian character pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crook/i-have-known-the-indians-intimately-known-them-in-their-private/) [George Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crook/) > [“Oh, superstition is terrible, terrible! oh, it is the great defect in our Indian character!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/oh-superstition-is-terrible-terrible-oh-it-is-the-great-defect-in-our/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [For how many thousands of years now have we humans been what we insist on calling "civilized?" And yet, in total contradiction, we also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/for-how-many-thousands-of-years-now-have-we-humans-been-what-we/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It is in refinement and elegance that the civilized man differs from the savage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-in-refinement-and-elegance-that-the-civilized-man-differs-from/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [This propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/this-propaganda-of-dis-associating-western-negroes-from-africa-is-not/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [How far men go for the material of their houses! The inhabitants of the most civilized cities, in all ages, send into far, primitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/how-far-men-go-for-the-material-of-their-houses-the-inhabitants-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is nothing in either savage or civilized history that is more utterly complete, more remorselessly sweeping than the Father of Mercy´s campaign among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-nothing-in-either-savage-or-civilized-history-that-is-more/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The most ultimately righteous of all wars is a war with savages, though it is apt to be also the most terrible and inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-most-ultimately-righteous-of-all-wars-is-a-war-with-savages/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [ 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/) ## More by Nelson A. Miles > [The troops were occasionally occupied in pursuing scattered bands going north or south, and on three occasions the large camp of Sitting Bull ventured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/the-troops-were-occasionally-occupied-in-pursuing-scattered-bands/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [For a time during the early settlement of this country peace and goodwill prevailed, only to be followed later by violent and relentless warfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/for-a-time-during-the-early-settlement-of-this-country-peace-and/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [Our relations with the Indians have been governed chiefly by treaties and trade, or war and subjugation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/our-relations-with-the-indians-have-been-governed-chiefly-by-treaties/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [These are hallowed moments, when every American has reason to express his gratitude to Almighty God that it has been our good fortune to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/these-are-hallowed-moments-when-every-american-has-reason-to-express/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [If we dismiss from our minds the prejudice we may have against the Indians we shall be able to more clearly understand the impulses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/if-we-dismiss-from-our-minds-the-prejudice-we-may-have-against-the/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [To illustrate to the Indians the advantages the white race had in the telephone I divided a body of warriors from Sitting Bull's camp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/to-illustrate-to-the-indians-the-advantages-the-white-race-had-in-the/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [The intrusions of the white race and the non- compliance with treaty obligations have been followed by atrocities that could alone satisfy a savage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/the-intrusions-of-the-white-race-and-the-non-compliance-with-treaty/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [Step by step a powerful and enterprising race has driven them back from the Atlantic to the West until at last there is scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/step-by-step-a-powerful-and-enterprising-race-has-driven-them-back/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [The Indians, however, could not migrate from one part of the United States to another; neither could they obtain employment as readily as white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/the-indians-however-could-not-migrate-from-one-part-of-the-united/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [A Christian people who have for two hundred years kept a race in bondage, deprived of the advantages of civilization and religion, owe them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/a-christian-people-who-have-for-two-hundred-years-kept-a-race-in/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [If the graves of the thousands of victims who have fallen in the terrible wars of the two races had been placed in line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/if-the-graves-of-the-thousands-of-victims-who-have-fallen-in-the/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [It is unfair to suppose that one party has invariably acted rightly, and that the other is responsible for every wrong that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/it-is-unfair-to-suppose-that-one-party-has-invariably-acted-rightly/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [One hundred years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, the Spanish government issued a decree authorizing the enslavement of the American Indian as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/one-hundred-years-before-the-pilgrims-landed-at-plymouth-the-spanish/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [Looking at the purpose of our government toward the Indians, we find that after subjugating them it has been our policy to collect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/looking-at-the-purpose-of-our-government-toward-the-indians-we-find/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [Whether or not our system of Indian management has been a success during the past ten, fifty, or hundred years is almost answered in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-a-miles/whether-or-not-our-system-of-indian-management-has-been-a-success/) [Nelson A. Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) [Explore all 19 Nelson A. Miles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. 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