Quotes by William Graham Sumner

About William Graham Sumner:


William Graham Sumner was a classical liberal (now often called "libertarian") American social scientist. He taught social sciences at Yale, where he held the nation's first professorship in sociology. He was one of the most influential teachers at Yale or any major schools. Sumner was a polymath with numerous books and essays on American history, economic history, political theory, sociology, and anthropology. He introduced the term "ethnocentrism" to identify the roots of imperialism, which he strongly opposed. He was a spokesman against imperialism and in favor of the "forgotten man" of the middle class and had a long-term influence on Conservatism in the United States.

Author Bio


  • NameWilliam Graham Sumner
  • DescriptionAmerican academic
  • BornOctober 30, 1840
  • DiedApril 12, 1910
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionAnthropologist; Political Scientist; Historian; Sociologist