Arnold J. Toynbee Quotes
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.
The immense cities lie basking on the beaches of the continent like whales that have taken to the land.
Sooner or later, man has always had to decide whether he worships his own power or the power of God.
Material power that is not counterbalanced by adequate spiritual power, that is, by love and wisdom, is a curse
The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenceless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenceless against ourselves.
The only real struggle in the history of the world ... is between the vested interest and social justice.
The absolute value of love makes life worth while, and so makes Man's strange and difficult situation acceptable. Love cannot save life from death; but it can fulfill life's purpose.
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.
As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility.
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.
The last stage but one of every civilisation, is characterised by the forced political unification of its constituent parts, into a single greater whole.
America is a large friendly dog in a small room. Every time it wags its tail it knocks over a chair.
I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.
History not used is nothing, for all intellectual life is action, like practical life, and if you don't use the stuff - well, it might as well be dead.
So-called racial characteristics are not really racial at all but are due to the historical experiences of the communities in question.
My advice to any traveler who is traveling in order to learn would be: 'Fight tooth and nail to be permitted to travel in what is technically the least efficient way.'
Human dignity can be achieved only in the field of ethics, and ethical achievement is measured by the degree in which our actions are governed by compassion and love, not by greed and aggressiveness.
We have been God-like in our planned breeding of our domesticated plants and animals, but we have been rabbit-like in our unplanned breeding of ourselves.
Angkor is perhaps the greatest of Man's essays in rectangular architecture that has yet been brought to life.
Anxiety and conscience are a powerful pair of dynamos. Between them, they have ensured that I shall work hard, but they cannot ensure that one shall work at anything worthwhile.
No being can be what he is unless he is putting his essence into action in his field.
The value of the goal lies in the goal itself; and therefore the goal cannot be attained unless it is pursued for its own sake.
Anxiety and conscience are a powerful pair of dynamos. Between them they have ensured that I shall work hard but they cannot ensure that one shall work at anything worthwhile.
Enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first an ideal which takes the imagination by storm and sec ond a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice.