Alfred L. Kroeber

Anthropology American 1876 – 1960 102 quotes

A prominent student of Franz Boas, he made significant contributions to cultural anthropology, particularly in the study of Native American cultures.

Quotes by Alfred L. Kroeber

Personal ambition pales before the collective heritage.

Personal reflection in diary 1950

Wit in anthropology: Why did the shaman cross the road? To consult the spirits on the other side.

Colloquial remark at conference 1935

The Yurok people teach us that wealth is in the exchange, not the hoard.

Handbook of the Indians of California 1925

Life's meaning lies in the stories we inherit and pass on.

Interview 1959

Anthropology is the science of human unity in diversity.

Anthropology 1923

To ignore culture is to ignore the human soul.

The Superorganic 1917

In fieldwork, patience is the greatest tool.

Field notes 1908

The clash of cultures breeds misunderstanding, not superiority.

Post-war lecture 1945

Art among primitives is as profound as any Renaissance masterwork.

Anthropology 1923

My dear Boas, your influence has shaped the very bones of our discipline.

Letter to Franz Boas 1912

The last words of a dying language are a tragedy for humanity.

Speech on linguistic preservation 1955

Humor in the field: Informants always know more than they let on.

Anecdote in memoir 1905

Professional duty calls us to document before it's lost forever.

Address to museum staff 1930

Life's brevity underscores the urgency of cultural salvage.

Personal letter 1958

Culture is the thread that binds generations.

Cultural Patterns and Technical Change 1940

In anthropology, every artifact tells a story of survival.

Handbook of the Indians of California 1925

The wit of the wise man is in knowing when to listen.

Conference remark 1948

Politics of the past: Tribes governed by consensus, not conquest.

Anthropology 1923

Reflections on fieldwork: Solitude reveals the self.

Journal entry 1909

The essence of science is humble inquiry into the unknown.

Introductory lecture 1950