Fukuzawa Yukichi Quotes

[http://www.mundoanuncio.com/anuncio/te_chino_del_dr_ming_1163904593.html Fukuzawa's portrait marketed as Chinese Tea of Dr. Ming]

[http://www.ibe.unesco.org/publications/ThinkersPdf/fukuzawe.pdf Article about Fukuzawa Yukichi from UNESCO publication]

The world is large.

Whatever happens in the country, whatever warfare harasses our land, we will never relinquish our hold on Western learning. As long as this school of ours stands, Japan remains a civilized nation of the world.

Each individual man and each individual country, according to the principles of natural reason, is free from bondage. Consequently, if there is some threat that might infringe upon a country’s freedom, then that country should not hesitate even to take up arms against all the countries of the world.

I think I have made it clear that I never intended to make enemies. But in an age when anti-foreign sentiment was running high, it was unavoidable that in my position as an advocate of open intercourse and free adoption of Western culture, I should make some adversaries.

It is said that heaven does not create one man above or below another man. Any existing distinction between the wise and the stupid, between the rich and the poor, comes down to a matter of education.

[http://www.ndl.go.jp/portrait/e/datas/185.html?c=10 Fukuzawa, Yukichi in Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures at the National Diet Library]

Therefore, to teach them [women] at least an outline of economics and law is the first requirement after giving them a general education. Figuratively speaking, it will be like providing the women of civilized society with a pocket dagger for self-protection.