Who said “There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.”?

Disputed

It's credited to Johann Kaspar Lavater, but no reliable source from their lifetime has been found.

What the research foundNo reliable early source found for Johann Kaspar Lavater.

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“There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.”
— Johann Kaspar Lavater
DisputedNo reliable early source found for Johann Kaspar Lavater. · evidenceMen
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Cite this quote

APA

“There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.” [Quotation attributed to Johann Kaspar Lavater]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28921-there-are-three-classes-of-men-the-retrograde/

MLA

“There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.” Attributed to Johann Kaspar Lavater. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28921-there-are-three-classes-of-men-the-retrograde/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.” Attributed to Johann Kaspar Lavater. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/28921-there-are-three-classes-of-men-the-retrograde/.

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