Meanings
alternative it takes all kinds · alternative it takes all sorts · alternative it takes all sorts to make a world · alternative it takes all types · alternative it takes all types to make a world
- idiomaticDiversity 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.
Origin
- Spanishde todos ha de haber en el mundo“There must be of all [types] in the world”
- Englishit takes all kinds to make a world
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.
More words from Spanish
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 构成世界需要各种各样的人
- 构成世界需要各种各样的人Diversity is essential
Finnish meitä on moneen junaan
- meitä on moneen junaanDiversity is essential
French il faut de tout pour faire un monde
- il faut de tout pour faire un mondeDiversity is essential
Italian il mondo è bello perché è vario
- il mondo è bello perché è varioDiversity is essential
Polish na świecie różnie bywa
- na świecie różnie bywaDiversity is essential
Russian мир, что огород: в нём всё растёт
- мир, что огород: в нём всё растёт (mir, što ogorod: v njom vsjo rastjót)Diversity is essential
Spanish de todo hay en la viña del Señor
- de todo hay en la viña del SeñorDiversity is essential
Cite this entry
it takes all kinds to make a world. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it%20takes%20all%20kinds%20to%20make%20a%20world
“it takes all kinds to make a world.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it%20takes%20all%20kinds%20to%20make%20a%20world. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “it takes all kinds to make a world,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it%20takes%20all%20kinds%20to%20make%20a%20world.
Source: it takes all kinds to make a world on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.