Hello r/AskHistorians,

I stumbled upon a supposed Karl Marx quote that I have been unable to confirm a source. Given that I am a graduate student in a history program, not being able to even get a hint in the right direction is certainly a rarity.

The quote is as followed: "...the impact of a more developed society upon a culture (or a series of warring cultures, since there was no such nation as India before the British Empire) can spread aspects of modernity and enlightenment that outlive and transcend the conqueror".

If I may ask, for the purposes of finding it easier and citations, if an answer can provide the edition and publisher of the source in which you found it as a larger text or the chapter if it is named. This would, obviously, not be needed for a shorter work such as an essay.

Also, if this is not considered the proper place (I am trusting historians to have a source rather than random history buffs) than I will remove this upon notification.

Thank you in advance.