"I hold with Henry George, that at the back of every great social evil will be found a great political wrong"
- Alfred Russel Wallace
About this Quote
In this quote, Alfred Russel Wallace expresses his arrangement with Henry George's belief that behind every major societal concern lies a basic political oppression. This suggests that the source of issues such as poverty, inequality, and corruption can be traced back to flaws in the political system. By acknowledging this connection, Wallace highlights the value of dealing with political wrongs in order to effectively take on social problems. This quote also suggests that political leaders and institutions have a duty to resolve these wrongs and work towards developing a more simply and equitable society. In general, Wallace's words function as a tip of the interconnectedness in between politics and social problems.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"