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Geographers are wont to boast of their subject as a very old one, extending, even as an organized science, far back to antiquity. But often when geographers in this country discuss the nature of their subject, whether in symposia or in published articles, one has the impression that geography was founded by a group of American scholars at the beginning of the twentieth century.

— Richard Hartshorne The Nature of Geography (1939)

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More quotes by Richard Hartshorne

Geography is that discipline that seeks to describe and interpret the variable character from place to place of the earth as the world of man.

Perspective on the nature of geography (1958)

The primary problem of political geography [is] the analysis of the degree to which the diverse regions of the state constitute a unity.

Hartshorne (1955)

The unique purpose of geography is to seek comprehension of the variable character of areas in terms of all the interrelated features which together form that variable character.

Perspective on the nature of geography (1958)

Geography is concerned to provide accurate, orderly, and rational description and interpretation of the variable character of the earth surface.

Perspective on the nature of geography (1958)

We may once again modify our statement of the purpose of geography to read: the study that seeks to provide scientific description of the earth as the world of man.

Perspective on the nature of geography (1958)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Richard Hartshorne (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.