A civilized man is one who will give a serious answer to a serious question. Civilization itself is a certain sane balance of values.
—Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic
To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The human race has improved everything, but the human race.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Civilization is the distance man has placed between himself and his excreta.
—Brian Aldiss (b.1925) English Novelist
The old Hindoo saw, in his dream, the human race led out to its various fortunes. — First, men were in chains, that went back to an iron hand — then he saw them led by threads from the brain, which went upward to an unseen hand. The first was despotism, iron, and ruling by force. — The last was civilization, ruling by ideas.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Social Activist, Lawyer, Orator
Without winners, there wouldn’t even be any civilization.
—Woody Hayes (1913–87) American Sportsperson
The test of civilization is the estimate of woman.
—George William Curtis (1824–92) American Essayist, Public Speaker, Editor, Author
We pass through this world but once. Few tragedies can be more extensive than the stunting of life, few injustices deeper than the denial of an opportunity to strive or even to hope, by a limit imposed from without, but falsely identified as lying within.
—Stephen Jay Gould (1941–2002) American Paleontology, Biologist, Historian, Academic
Civilization is the order and freedom promoting cultural activity.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Entrepreneur, Business
Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Entrepreneur, Business
Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
Civilization is the lamb’s skin in which barbarism masquerades.
—Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836–1907) American Poet, Novelist, Traveler, Editor
When you can’t do something truly useful, you tend to vent the pent up energy in something useless but available, like snappy dressing.
—Lois McMaster Bujold (b.1949) American Novelist, Writer
We used to build civilizations. Now we build shopping malls.
—Bill Bryson (1951–95) American Humorist, Author, Educator
Education is the transmission of civilization.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Entrepreneur, Business
Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men.
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Activist, Political Activist, Author, Lecturer
Is civilization only a higher form of idolatry, that man should bow down to a flesh-brush, to flannels, to baths, diet, exercise, and air?
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Is man’s civilization only a wrappage, through which the savage nature of him can still burst, infernal as ever?
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.
—B. F. Skinner (1904–90) American Psychologist, Social Philosopher, Inventor, Author
Civilization is a movement and not a condition, a voyage and not a harbor.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
If you would civilize a man, begin with his grandmother.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist