Moral decline

Explore 10 quotes about Moral decline

The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

W.B. Yeats

The Second Coming

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Topic

Decline of civilization Moral decline

Author

W.B. Yeats

Source

The Second Coming

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1920 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Yeats, William Butler. "The Second Coming." The Dial, Nov. 1920.

Current Citation

Yeats, William Butler. "The Second Coming." W. B. Yeats: The Major Works, edited by Edward Larrissy. Oxford University Press, 2008.

O tempora! O mores!

Cicero

Against Catiline

More information about this quote

Topic

Moral decline

Speaker

Cicero

Source

Against Catiline

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Lament

Language

Latin

Time

63 BC 60s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. "Oratio in Catilinam Prima in Senatu Habit." 63 BC, Rome Senate, Rome, Italy.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Cicero: In Catilinam I-IV, edited by J.F. Stout. Bristol Classical Press, 2009, Oratio 1.

Among a people generally corrupt liberty cannot long exist.

Edmund Burke

More information about this quote

Topic

Decline of democracy Democracy Freedom Moral decline Morality

Author

Edmund Burke

Source

Letters of Edmund Burke

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1777 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Burke, Edmund. A Letter to John Farr and John Harris, Esqs., Sheriffs of the City of Bristol, on the Affairs of America. London: J. Dodsley, 3 Apr. 1777.

Current Citation

Burke, Edmund. "A Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol on the Affairs of America." The Portable Edmund Burke, edited by Isaac Kramnick. Penguin, 2009.

Our fathers' age was worse than our grandfathers'. We their sons are more worthless than they: so in our turn we shall give the world a progeny yet more corrupt.

Horace

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Topic

Kids these days Moral decline Decline

Author

Horace

Source

Odes (Horace)

Medium

Poem

Language

Latin

Time

23 BC 20s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Horace. Carmina [Odes]. 23 BC, bk. 3, no. 6.

Current Citation

Horace. "Odes." The Complete Odes and Epodes, translated by David West. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 3, no. 6.

Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,
And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.

Oliver Goldsmith

Read The Traveller at Project Gutenberg

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Topic

Moral decline Morality Capitalism

Author

Oliver Goldsmith

Source

The Traveller

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Proverbs, aphorisms and adages

Language

English

Time

1764 1760s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Goldsmith, Oliver. The Traveller; or, a Prospect of Society. London: John Newbery, 1764.

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates, and men decay;
Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade;
A breath can make them, as a breath has made:
But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied.

Oliver Goldsmith

Read The Deserted Village at Poetry Foundation

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Topic

Moral decline Morality Economic inequality Working class

Author

Oliver Goldsmith

Source

The Deserted Village

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1770 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Goldsmith, Oliver. The Deserted Village. London: W. Griffin, 1770, l. 51.

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, God knows,
Anything goes.

Cole Porter

Anything Goes

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Topic

Moral decline Custom and convention

Author

Cole Porter

Source

Anything Goes

Medium

Song

Genre

Great American songbook

Language

English

Time

1934 1930s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Porter, Cole. "Anything Goes." Anything Goes. Performed by Ethel Merman. 1934, Alvin Theatre, New York, NY, USA.

It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin. Let us, then, look to the great cause, and endeavor to preserve it in full force. Let us by all wise and constitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties.

James Monroe

First Inaugural Address of James Monroe

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Topic

Moral decline Threats to the nation Threats to freedom Political theory

Speaker

James Monroe

Source

First Inaugural Address of James Monroe Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1817 1810s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Monroe, James. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1817, Front steps, Old Brick Capitol, Washington, DC, USA.

It's a stinking world because there's no law and order anymore! It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old, like you done. Oh, it's no world for an old man any longer. What sort of a world is it at all? Men on the moon, and men spinning around the earth, and there's not no attention paid to earthly law and order no more.

A Clockwork Orange

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More information about this quote

Topic

Law and order Moral decline Decline of civilization

Speaker

Tramp

Actor

Paul Farrell

Source

A Clockwork Orange

Medium

Film

Genre

Dystopian (film) Crime (film) Dystopian Crime

Language

English

Time

1971 1970s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

A Clockwork Orange. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Polaris Productions/Hawk Films, 1971.

Oh this age! How tasteless and ill-bred it is!

Catullus

Carmina

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Topic

Moral decline Decline

Author

Catullus

Source

Carmina

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Lament

Language

Latin

Time

54 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Catullus, Gaius Valerius. Carmina. c. 1481, no. 43, l. 8.

Current Citation

Cattulus, Gaius Valerius. The Poems of Catullus, translated by Guy Lee. Oxford University Press, 2009, no. 43, l. 8.