Alexander von Humboldt
said
Only what we have wrought into our character during life can we take away with us.
— As quoted in Seed-grain for Thought and Discussion (1856) by Anna Cabot Lowell, Vol. 1, p. 260
Alexander von Humboldt
Prussian geographer, naturalist and explorer (1769-1859)
- Fame79.7
- Momentum10.0
- Global rank#228
Source-basedStable
- Fame79.7
- Momentum10.0
- Global rank#228
- Scientists rank#32
- Wikipedia53.3K
Lived 1769–1859, aged 90
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Updated 2026-06-08
He climbed a mountain in Ecuador to 19,286 feet in 1802—then a record for any Westerner—and came down with the blueprint for ecology. Humboldt mapped the Americas through a lens no European had used before, then spent two decades writing it up and another lifetime stitching science into a single breathing system he called Kosmos.
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Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt was born 14 September 1769, younger brother to the Prussian minister and linguist Wilhelm. Between 1799 and 1804 he and French explorer Aimé Bonpland traversed thousands of miles through some of the least-known terrain on Earth, identifying the source of the Orinoco and scaling Ecuador's highest peak. His quantitative work on botanical geography founded the field of biogeography; his push for long-term geophysical measurement pioneered modern geomagnetic and meteorological monitoring. The journey became several volumes published over 21 years.…
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Sourced, dated quotes from Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
said
While we maintain the unity of the human species, we at the same time repel the depressing assumption of superior and inferior races of men.
— Kosmos (1845 - 1847)
Alexander von Humboldt
said
The expression of vanity and self-love becomes less offensive, when it retains something of simplicity and frankness.
— Equinoctial Regions of America (1814-1829)
Alexander von Humboldt
said
Our imagination is struck only by what is great; but the lover of natural philosophy should reflect equally on little things.
— Equinoctial Regions of America (1814-1829)
Alexander von Humboldt
said
In order to ameliorate without commotion new institutions must be made, as it were, to rise out of those which the barbarism of centuries has consecrated.
— Equinoctial Regions of America (1814-1829)
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Stable79.7
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Historical25.9
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Source confidence60.0
Completeness60.0
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