I contend that we are the first race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race... If there be a God, I think that what he would like me to do is paint as much of the map of Africa British Red as possible...

Cecil Rhodes

Categorized in : Thinking Race If There Is A God

Africa is still lying ready for us it is our duty to take it. It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race more of the best the most human, most honorable race the world possesses.

Cecil Rhodes

eye mean lying

I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings what an alteration there would be if they were brought under Anglo-Saxon influence, look again at the extra employment a new country added to our dominions gives.

Cecil Rhodes

race giving country

We must find new lands from which we can easily obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labor that is available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods produced in our factories.

Cecil Rhodes

slave-labor raw-materials land

Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life.

Cecil Rhodes

englishmen remember firsts

When people praise you, don't let it go to your head. When they criticize you, don't let it go to your heart.

Cecil Rhodes

let-it-go heart people

Ask any man what nationality he would prefer to be, and ninety nine out of a hundred will tell you that they would prefer to be Englishmen

Cecil Rhodes

ninety-nine hundred men

Why should we not form a secret society with but one object, the furtherance of the British Empire and the bringing of the whole world under British rule, for the recovery of the United States, for making the Anglo Saxon race but one Empire? What a dream, but yet it is probable; it is possible.

Cecil Rhodes

recovery race dream

If there be a God, I think he would like me to paint Africa British-Red as possible.

Cecil Rhodes

if-there-is-a-god red thinking

To think of these stars that you see overhead at night, these vast worlds which we can never reach. I would annex the planets if I could; I often think of that. It makes me sad to see them so clear and yet so far.

Cecil Rhodes

stars night thinking

So little done, so much to do.

Cecil Rhodes

done business life

Having read the histories of other countries, I saw that expansion was everything, and that the world's surface being limited, the great object of present humanity should be to take as much of the world as it possibly could.

Cecil Rhodes

expansion humanity country

In order to save the 40,000,000 inhabitants of the United Kingdom from a bloody civil war, we colonial statesmen must acquire new lands to settle the surplus population, to provide new markets. [...] The Empire, as I have always said, is a bread and butter question.

Cecil Rhodes

war order country

You are an Englishman, and have subsequently drawn the greatest prize in the lottery of life.

Cecil Rhodes

born winning firsts

Pure philanthropy is very well in its way but philanthropy plus five percent is a good deal better.

Cecil Rhodes

philanthropy plus way

Man begets, but land does not beget.

Cecil Rhodes

land doe men

I have found out one thing and that is, if you have an idea, and it is a good idea, if you only stick to it you will come out all right.

Cecil Rhodes

brilliant sticks ideas

The real fact is that I could no longer stand their eternal cold mutton.

Cecil Rhodes

humor real funny

I have too much work on my hands and I would not be a dutiful husband.

Cecil Rhodes

too-much husband hands

Wherever you turn your eye—except in science—an Oxford man is at the top of the tree.

Cecil Rhodes

eye oxford men