immanuel kant says:

"the inhabitants of the coast of new holland have half-closed eyes and cannot see into the distance without tilting their heads right back. they accustom themselves to this because of the many mosquitoes that are always flying into their eyes. some peoples, like the moors of sierra leone and the mongols who are within the area of china, spread an evil smell."

among other absolutely ridiculous, offensive things, in his essays on national characteristics and physical geography. i have spent a good part of this morning reading these essays in complete disbelief.