There is as yet no civilized society, but only a society…
“There is as yet no civilized society, but only a society in the process of becoming civilized. There is as yet no civilized nation, but only nations in the process of becoming civilized. From this standpoint, we can now speak of a collective task of humankind. The task of humanity is to build a genuine civilization.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human societies evolve toward civility; current states are transitional, not final.
In simple terms: Societies are still becoming civilized.
Support progress toward a genuine civilization.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education reform
- global policy
- community building
- intercultural dialogue
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can individuals take to foster civility?
- How do we measure a society's civility?
Achieving true civility requires confronting entrenched inequities.