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.

There is no fundamental difference in the ways of thinking of primitive and civilized man. A close connection between race and personality has never been established.

I hope I may have succeeded in presenting to you, however imperfectly, the currents of thought due to the work of the immortal Darwin which have helped to make anthropology what it is at the present time

Remember that in every single case in history the process of adaptation has been one of exceeding slowness. Do not look for the impossible, but do not let your path deviate from the quiet and steadfast insistence on full opportunities for your powers.

The existence of any pure race with special endowments is a myth, as is the belief that there are races all of whose members are foredoomed to eternal inferiority.

My father had retained an emotional affection for the ceremonial of his parental home, without allowing it to influence his intellectual freedom

I object to teaching of slogans intended to befog the mind, of whatever kind they may be