Burden Quote by Rudyard Kipling
“Take up the White Man's burden -- send forth the best ye breed -- go, bind your sons to exile to serve your captives need.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The White Man’s Burden”, 1899
A call for imperial powers to assume responsibility for colonized peoples, framed as a moral duty.
In simple terms: Imperial duty portrayed as noble burden.
Key Takeaway
Question the moral justification of empire.
Themes
imperialism
responsibility
colonialism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- political policy
- historical analysis
- education curricula
- public debate
Key Concepts
civilizing mission
moral duty
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ethical to impose one’s values on another?
- How do we reconcile “civilizing” rhetoric with oppression?
A Different Perspective
Ignores the agency and suffering of colonized peoples.
![“Marry your sonne when you will; your daughter when you can. [Marry your son when you will, your daughter when you can.]” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/859/george-herbert-107_children_marry-your-sonne-when-you-will-your-daug_380656.jpg)
