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Fukuzawa Yukichi Quotes
1835–1901 Japan
Fukuzawa Yukichi (福澤 諭吉 Yukichi Fukuzawa; 10 January 1835 – 3 February 1901) was a Japanese author, writer, teacher, entrepreneur and political theorist whose ideas about government and social institutions made a lasting impression on a rapidly changing Japan during the period known as the Meiji Era.
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Each individual man and each individual country, according to the principles of natural reason, is free from bondage.
We do not have time to wait for the enlightenment of our neighbors so that we can work together toward the development of Asia.
Seen in this light, civilization is an open-ended process. We cannot be satisfied with the present level of attainment of the West.
Bunmeiron no Gairyaku [An Outline of a Theory of Civilization (1875)
It is said that heaven does not create one man above or below another man. Any existing distinction between the wise and the stupid, between the rich and the poor, comes down to a matter of education.
I think I have made it clear that I never intended to make enemies. But in an age when anti-foreign sentiment was running high, it was unavoidable that in my position as an advocate of open intercourse and free adoption of Western culture, I should make some adversaries.
The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi (1897)
Whatever happens in the country, whatever warfare harasses our land, we will never relinquish our hold on Western learning. As long as this school of ours stands, Japan remains a civilized nation of the world.
The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi (1897)
Because both man and woman have roles indispensable for life, without them the world cannot endure even a day. Their capabilities are about the same, but men are generally stronger than women. If a strong man fights a woman he will always win.
An Encouragement of Learning (2013)
Therefore, to teach them [women] at least an outline of economics and law is the first requirement after giving them a general education. Figuratively speaking, it will be like providing the women of civilized society with a pocket dagger for self-protection.
To recount the history of assassination since the beginning of our foreign intercourse — in the beginning, people simply hated the foreigners because all foreigners were "impure" men who should not be permitted to tread the sacred soil of Japan... As I have said before, I felt my life in greatest danger during the twelve or thirteen years around the period of the [Meiji] Restoration.
The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi (1897)
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