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In order to ameliorate without commotion new institutions must be made, as it were, to rise out of those which the barbarism of centuries has consecrated.

— Alexander von Humboldt Equinoctial Regions of America (1814)

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More quotes by Alexander von Humboldt

Only what we have wrought into our character during life can we take away with us.

Seed-grain for Thought and Discussion (1856)

Our imagination is struck only by what is great; but the lover of natural philosophy should reflect equally on little things.

Equinoctial Regions of America (1814)

The expression of vanity and self-love becomes less offensive, when it retains something of simplicity and frankness.

Equinoctial Regions of America (1814)

A physical delineation of nature terminates at the point where the sphere of intellect begins, and a new world of mind is opened to our view. It marks the limit, but does not pass it.

Kosmos (1845)

I despise mankind in all its strata; I foresee that our descendants will be still far unhappier than we are. Would I not be a criminal if, notwithstanding this view, I should provide for progeny, i. e. for unfortunates?

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