“At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace the savage races throughout the world.”
- February 12, 1809 – April 19, 1882
- Born in England (UK)
- Naturalist, geologist, biologist
- Wrote “On the Origin of Species” and proposed the theory of evolution and natural selection
Quote
“At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace the savage races throughout the world.”
Explanation
In this quote, Charles Darwin expresses a view on the future of human civilization, predicting that more “civilized” races will dominate and replace those he considers to be “savage.” Darwin’s perspective reflects the prevailing 19th-century views of social Darwinism—a misapplication of his evolutionary theories to human society. The idea that some races were “more evolved” than others was a common belief at the time and was often used to justify colonialism and the subjugation of indigenous peoples. Darwin’s quote, however, reflects a perspective that is now widely criticized for its ethnocentricity and racism.
Historically, Darwin’s thoughts on race were complex. He was an advocate of the abolition of slavery and believed in the equality of all humans in terms of their shared evolutionary heritage. However, the language used here reflects the broader Victorian mindset, which often viewed non-European peoples as “inferior” and in need of being “civilized.” While Darwin’s work in natural selection focused on the evolution of species based on environmental pressures, it was misused in the context of human societies to justify racist ideologies, which positioned European or Western civilizations as superior.
In modern times, this quote is rightly viewed as a deeply problematic and outdated reflection of 19th-century views on race and civilization. Today, we understand that all humans belong to a single species with a shared evolutionary heritage, and any notion of racial hierarchy is scientifically unfounded and ethically indefensible. Social Darwinism, which misapplied Darwin’s theories to human societies, has been largely discredited, and modern biology emphasizes the common humanity of all people. Darwin’s work has been reassessed to focus on its contributions to evolutionary biology, while the misuse of his theories in justifying racism and colonialism serves as an important lesson about the potential dangers of misinterpreting scientific ideas for social or political agendas.
