Of the twenty-two civilizations that have appeared in history, nineteen of them collapsed when they reached the moral state the United States is in now.
Arnold J. ToynbeeRead
I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Civilizations can evolve and change without necessarily ending, as they are shaped by human choices rather than natural laws.
In this quote, Arnold J. Toynbee argues that civilizations are not like living organisms that have a predetermined life cycle; instead, they are constructs created and shaped by human will and decisions. This perspective suggests that the fate of civilizations can be altered by the actions and intentions of their people, implying a potential for renewal and transformation rather than inevitable decline.
Themes
CivilizationChangeHuman WillEvolutionCultural Progress
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the future of society, you could use this quote to emphasize hope and the potential for change.
More from Arnold J. Toynbee
All quotes βIt is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it.
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No being can be what he is unless he is putting his essence into action in his field.
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Write regularly, day in and day out, at whatever times of day you find that you write best. Don't wait till you feel that you are in the mood. Write, whether you are feeling inclined to write or not.
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Sooner or later, man has always had to decide whether he worships his own power or the power of God.
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Love's way of dealing with us is different from conscience's way. Conscience commands; love inspires. What we do out of love, we do because we want to.
Arnold J. ToynbeeRead
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