Who said “Take up the White Man's burden -- send forth the best ye breed -- go, bind your sons to…”?

Verified

Rudyard Kipling. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe White Man's Burden, Stanza 1 (1899).

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Take up the White Man's burden -- send forth the best ye breed -- go, bind your sons to exile to serve your captives need.”
VerifiedThe White Man's Burden, Stanza 1 (1899). · evidenceEmpire

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The White Man's Burden, Stanza 1 (1899)..

APA

Kipling, R. (n.d.). Take up the White Man's burden -- send forth the best ye breed -- go, bind your sons to exile to serve your captives need. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14423-take-up-the-white-mans-burden-send-forth/

MLA

Kipling, Rudyard. “Take up the White Man's burden -- send forth the best ye breed -- go, bind your sons to exile to serve your captives need.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14423-take-up-the-white-mans-burden-send-forth/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Kipling, Rudyard. “Take up the White Man's burden -- send forth the best ye breed -- go, bind your sons to exile to serve your captives need.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/14423-take-up-the-white-mans-burden-send-forth/.