it takes all kinds to make a world

English

Alternative forms

• it takes all kinds
• it takes all sorts
• it takes all sorts to make a world
• it takes all types
• it takes all types to make a world

Etymology

Calque of Spanish de todos ha de haber en el mundo (“There must be of all [types] in the world”), Miguel de Cervantes, El ingenioso caballero Don Quijote de la Mancha, Capítulo VI, 1615 (Don Quixote, Volume 2, Chapter VI); translated 1620, Shelton, as "In the world there must surely be of all sorts." and appeared in various forms thereafter.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Proverb

it takes all kinds to make a world

1. (idiomatic) Diversity is essential: the world would be incomplete if everyone were alike; an expression of surprise at a person or people's eccentricity.

   He irons his clothes how?! That's crazy! Well, I guess it takes all kinds to make a world.

Usage notes

• It takes all kinds and its variants generally express amazement about a difference, while sayings such as different strokes for different folks and variety is the spice of life generally connote acceptance of that difference.

Translations

Diversity is essential

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 构成世界需要各种各样的人

• Finnish: meitä on moneen junaan
• French: il faut de tout pour faire un monde (fr)
• Italian: il mondo è bello perché è vario
• Polish: na świecie różnie bywa
• Russian: мир, что огород: в нём всё растёт (mir, što ogorod: v njom vsjo rastjót)
• Spanish: de todo hay en la viña del Señor

See also

• different strokes for different folks
• horses for courses
• variety is the spice of life
• vive la différence