"From what I have said of the Natives of New-Holland they may appear to some to be the most wretched people upon Earth, but in reality they are far more happier than we Europeans; being wholly unacquainted not only with the superfluous but the necessary Conveniences so much sought after in Europe, they are happy in not knowing the use of them. They live in a Tranquillity which is not disturb’d by the Inequality of Condition: The Earth and sea of their own accord furnishes them with all things necessary for life, they covet not Magnificent Houses, Household-stuff &c., they live in a warm and fine Climate and enjoy a very wholesome Air. ... In short they seem’d to set no Value upon any thing we gave them, nor would they ever part with any thing of their own for any one article we could offer them; this in my opinion argues that they think themselves provided with all the necessarys of Life and that they have no superfluities."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
James Cook, Journal of the First Voyage of Captain James Cook (National Library, Canberra), entry dated 23 August 1770
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Indigenous Australians
10 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Indigenous Australians →
Related Quotes
"The realistic timeframe that should be considered to achieve outcomes for Indigenous people equal to the rest of the …"
"Too much emphasis is being placed in the current debate on providing opportunity for indigenous kids in very remote A…"
"The inhabitants of this country are the miserabilist people in the world."
"Words are cheap—although they can lead to expensive demands—and politicians like to appear caring and sensitive. More…"
"The victory of the American colonists over their British rulers in the War of Independence near the end of the eighte…"
"We have to get rid of the passive welfare mentality that has taken over our people. Our traditional economy was a rea…"
"Do you still throw spears at each other?"
"The law as far as the Aboriginal law stands, violence on an Aboriginal woman is not really terrible but a mild one. Y…"
"A 65-year-old elder of the Aboriginal Australian Wakkawakka ethnic tribe in the state of Queensland, died after recei…"
"The natives at Cape York call themselves Gudaŋ. Westward of that tribe are the Kokiliga; south-west of the Gudaŋ are …"