The behavior of an individual is determined not by his racial affiliation, but by the character of his ancestry and his cultural environment.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Individual character is shaped by family upbringing and culture, not race.
- In plain terms
- Who you are comes from your culture and family, not your race.
- What can you take from it?
- Character comes from environment, not genetics.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much is nature vs. nurture?
Another view
Biological factors can still play a role in behavior.
More from Franz Boas
The passion for seeking the truth for truth's sake...can be kept alive only if we continue to seek the truth for truth's sake.
Permalink to quote #1 No one has ever proved that a human being, through his descent from a certain group of people, must of necessity have certain mental characteristics.
Permalink to quote #3
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