Able Quote by W. E. B. Du Bois
“It is, then, the strife of all honorable men and women of the twentieth century to see that in the future competition of the races the survival of the fittest shall mean the triumph of the good, the beautiful, and the true; that we may be able to preserve for future civilization all that is really fine and noble and strong, and not continue to put a premium on greed and imprudence and cruelty.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Souls of Black Folk", 1903
He warns that future competition must value moral and aesthetic virtues over selfishness and cruelty.
In simple terms: Future success should reward goodness, beauty, truth.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate virtue over greed.
Themes
ethics
civilization
humanism
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- education reform
- policy making
- community leadership
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
social progress
Questions to Reflect On
- Can societies balance competition with virtue?
- What defines “the good” in diverse cultures?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may overlook practical constraints.
