It is not the function of the State to make men happy. They must make themselves happy in their own way, and at their own risk. The functions of the State lie entirely in the conditions or chances under which the pursuit of happiness is carried on. William Graham Sumner More Quotes by William Graham Sumner More Quotes From William Graham Sumner Men educated in [the critical habit of thought]are slow to believe. They can hold things as possible or probable in all degrees, without certainty and without pain. William Graham Sumner pain men believe A good father believes that he does wisely to encourage enterprise, productive skill, prudent self-denial, and judicious expenditure on the part of his son. William Graham Sumner fathers-day encouragement believe If we put together all that we have learned from anthropology and ethnography about primitive men and primitive society, we perceive that the first task of life is to live. Men begin with acts, not with thoughts. William Graham Sumner learning life science If you want a war, nourish a doctrine. Doctrines are the most frightful tyrants to which men are ever subject, because doctrines get inside a man's reason and betray him against himself. Civilized men have done their fiercest fighting for doctrines. William Graham Sumner betrayal fighting war It is the tendency of the social burdens to crush out the middle class, and to force society into an organization of only two classes, one at each social extreme. William Graham Sumner crush organization class The class distinctions simply result from the different degrees of success with which men have availed themselves of the chances which were presented to them. Instead of endeavoring to redistribute the acquisitions which have been made between the existing classes, our aim should be to increase, multiply, and extend the chances. William Graham Sumner degrees class men If any student of social science comes to appreciate the case of the Forgotten Man, he will become an unflinching advocate of strict scientific thinking in sociology, and a hard-hearted skeptic as regards any scheme of social amelioration. He will always want to know, Who and where is the Forgotten Man in this case, who will have to pay for it all? William Graham Sumner appreciate men thinking I have lived through the best years of this country's history. The next generations are going to see war and social calamities. I am glad I don't have to live on into them. William Graham Sumner war country years It would be hard to find a single instance of a direct assault by positive effort upon poverty, vice, and misery which has not either failed or, if it has not failed directly and entirely, has not entailed other evils greater than the one which it removed. William Graham Sumner effort vices evil Men never cling to their dreams with such tenacity as at the moment when they are losing faith in them, and know it, but do not dare yet to confess it to themselves. William Graham Sumner sunset dream men The yearning after equality [in economic outcome] is the offspring of envy and covetousness, and there is no possible plan for satisfying that yearning which can do aught else than rob A to give to B; consequently all such plans nourish some of the meanest vices of human nature, waste capital, and overthrow civilization. William Graham Sumner envy giving civilization Everywhere you go on the continent of Europe at this hour you see the conflict between militarism and industrialism. You see the expansion of industrial power pushed forward by the energy, hope, and thrift of men, and you see the development arrested, diverted, crippled, and defeated by measures which are dictated by military considerations. William Graham Sumner military power men History is only a tiresome repetition of one story. William Graham Sumner tiresome repetition stories The taxing power is especially something after which the reformer's finger always itches. William Graham Sumner reformers fingers Darwin was as much of an emancipator as was Lincoln. William Graham Sumner What we prepare for is what we shall get William Graham Sumner If you allow a political catchword to go on and grow, you will awaken some day to find it standing over you, arbiter of your destiny, against which you are powerless. William Graham Sumner destiny political over-you Labor organizations are formed, not to employ combined effort for a common object, but to indulge in declamation and denunciation, and especially to furnish an easy living to some officers who do not want to work. William Graham Sumner hygiene indulge-in organization If you want war, nourish a doctrine. Doctrines are the most frightful tyrants to which men ever are subject. William Graham Sumner men war peace The criminal law needs to be improved to meet new forms of crime, but to denounce financial devices which are useful and legitimate because use is made of them for fraud, is ridiculous and unworthy of the age in which we live. William Graham Sumner hype age law
