The nature of the breakdowns of civilizations can be summed up in three points: a failure of creative power in the minority, an answering withdrawal of mimesis on the part of the majority and a consequent loss of social unity in the society as a whole.

Arnold J. Toynbee

More information about this quote

Topic

Decline of civilization

Speaker

Arnold J. Toynbee

Language

English

Time

1947 1940s 20th century

Occupation

Historian

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Toynbee, Arnold J. Quoted in A Study of History: Abridgement of Volumes I-VI, written by D.C. Somervell. Oxford University Press, 1948, vol. 4.

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Another quote from the 1940s

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.

Albert Camus

The Myth of Sisyphus

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More information about this quote
Topic
Suicide Purpose of life Philosophy

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Myth of Sisyphus
Medium
Essay
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1942 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. Le Mythe de Sisyphe [The Myth of Sisyphus]. Éditions Gallimard, 1942.