Every society rests in the last resort on the recognition of common principles and common ideals, and if it makes no moral or spiritual appeal to the loyalty of its members, it must inevitably fall to pieces.
Interpretation
Society depends on shared values and ideals for cohesion; without them, it will fail.
This quote by Christopher Dawson emphasizes the importance of shared moral and spiritual principles within a society. It argues that for a society to remain intact and functional, its members must be united by common beliefs and ideals; when these connections weaken, the society risks disintegration and chaos.
In practice
During a community meeting discussing local challenges, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of shared values.
We have entered a new phase of culture - we may call it the Age of the Cinema - in which the most amazing perfection of scientific technique is being devoted to purely ephemeral objects, without any consideration of their ultimate justification. It seems as though a new society was arising which will acknowledge no hierarchy of values, no intellectual authority, and no social or religious tradition, but which will live for the moment in a chaos of pure sensation.
It is true that Christianity is not bound up with any particular race or culture. It is neither of the East or of the West, but has a universal mission to the human race as a whole
Walks. The body advances, while the mind flutters around it like a bird.
The more powerful the class, the more it claims not to exist, and its power is employed above all to enforce this claim. It is modest only on this one point, however, because this officially nonexistent bureaucracy simultaneously attributes the crowning achievements of history to its own infallible leadership. Though its existence is everywhere in evidence, the bureaucracy must be invisible as a class. As a result, all social life becomes insane.
A force as of madness in the hands of reason has done all that was ever done in the world.
Mythology is often defined as 'other peoples' religions', religion can be thought of as misinterpreted mythology.
The result of the voyage does not depend on the speed of the ship, but on whether or not it keeps a true course.
Whenever two particles come together, they are held by a certain attraction; and there will come a time when those particles will separate. This is the eternal law. So, wherever there is a body - either grosser or finer, either in heaven or on earth - death will overcome it.
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