"Civilisation has ever accompanied emigration and conquest - the conflict of opinion, of religion, or of race"
- Alfred Russel Wallace
About this Quote
In this quote, Alfred Russel Wallace is highlighting the idea that civilisation and the act of emigration and conquest frequently go together. He suggests that as people move and conquer colonies, there is bound to be conflict emerging from distinctions in opinion, faith, and race. This conflict is seen as a natural repercussion of the growth of civilisation and the clash of various cultures. Wallace's words likewise suggest that this dispute is not necessarily unfavorable, but rather a required part of the growth and development of civilisation. It is through these disputes that societies have the ability to progress and advance.
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"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart"
