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 (AU) (file)

Proverb

it takes all kinds to make a world

(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 njóm vsjó rastjót)
Spanish: de todo hay en la viña del Señor