Since someone has decided to try and remove the local statue of H.G. Wells - based entirely on a single awful, early quote from a Guardian article which listed him alongside Cecil Rhodes - here are some other quotes and information about him (thread1/8)

He was continually updating his thoughts on the future, broadening his outlook.2/8

He attempted to take a scientific approach. In a time when race was a scientific given, he was looking at it differently. 3/8

He tried to use his voice to fight racial injustice. 4/8

He criticised the attitudes to race in South Africa. 5/8

At times he came to regret some of the ideas he’d upheld. The Holocaust left an impression on his views. 6/8

His views on eugenics also went through a complete turnaround, having at one time advocated sterilisation (he rejected superior breeding). His book, The Rights of Man(1940) included the passage below. (The book laid the groundwork for the universal declaration of human rights)7/8

As someone who has had to work on myself, recognise my failings and prejudices, and seek to overcome them, I can empathise with Wells’ journey. If you have to get it right from the start, I’m damned forever, too. 8/8