The Wisdom of Alexander von Humboldt: Challenging Worldviews Through Travel
“The most dangerous worldview is that of people who have not seen the world themselves.”
— Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859)
Today, I begin with this nearly 200-year-old quote, one I couldn’t have put better myself. It serves as a powerful reminder of moments in my own life that made me question how I see the world—and how others see it too. I’ve experienced situations where people, who barely knew me, judged my decisions harshly, calling me irresponsible for planning to travel through the Sahara alone and on foot.
Looking back, it’s fascinating to see that the people who were most critical had never set foot in a desert, let alone visited Morocco. These were people who had never traveled on foot in the Arabic world, in Africa, or anywhere outside the comfort of a five-star hotel. They were quick to warn me, even though they had no idea what they were talking about.
Reality Versus Fear: The Truth About Traveling in the Sahara
Here’s the irony: none of the things these people warned me about ever happened. Instead of encountering kidnappers or danger, I made friends for life.
Last year, my girlfriend and I decided to embark on an eight-month journey in our old camper, EMMA. Once again, we were met with warnings from people who had never traveled in a camper outside of campsites or who had no real experience with the countries we were visiting. They didn’t know the first thing about old cars, but that didn’t stop them from expressing their concerns. To be fair, I didn’t know much about fixing an old camper either—but I was confident we’d figure it out as we went.
By the way, we never met anyone who actually knew someone personally who had been robbed after their camper was sprayed with KO gas—another fear people had warned us about.
The Importance of Trusting Yourself Over the Opinions of Others
On a personal level, I’ve had to make tough decisions—ones that only I fully understood the reasons behind. And yet, the moment I made those decisions, people who didn’t know the full story would show up, eager to tell me how they thought I should act instead.
Experiences like these have taught me to be more cautious about judging others. I’m not perfect at avoiding judgment, but I’ve gotten better. Now, when I encounter someone making a decision I don’t fully understand, I try to remember that they’re likely doing the best they can with the information and circumstances they have.
Why We Should Resist the Urge to Judge Others
Do you ever find yourself in situations where you just can’t understand someone’s decision? That urge to step in, to judge, or to offer advice can be strong. I know it well. But I also try to remind myself quietly: Don’t judge. Don’t judge others, Florian.
We all have different experiences and knowledge, and unless we’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, it’s impossible to fully grasp their perspective.