Civilization Quotes by Alfred North Whitehead

Civilizations can only be understood by those who are civilized.

— Alfred North Whitehead

Without adventure civilization is in full decay.

— Alfred North Whitehead

Without adventure all civilization is full of decay. Adventure rarely reaches its predetermined end. Columbus never reached China.

— Alfred North Whitehead

It must be admitted that there is a degree of instability which is inconsistent with civilization. But, on the whole, the great…

— Alfred North Whitehead

It is the business of future to be dangerous… The major advances in civilization are processes that all but wreck the societies…

— Alfred North Whitehead

Without adventure civilization is in full decay. ... The great fact [is] that in their day the great achievements of the past…

— Alfred North Whitehead

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.

— Alfred North Whitehead

A general definition of civilization: a civilized society is exhibiting the fine qualities of truth, beauty, adventure, art, peace.

— Alfred North Whitehead

I put forward as a general definition of civilization, that a civilized society is exhibiting the five qualities of Truth, Beauty, Adventure,…

— Alfred North Whitehead

Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. Operations of thought are cavalry…

— Alfred North Whitehead

It is a profoundly erroneous truism, repeated by all copy books and by eminent people when they are making speeches, that we…

— Alfred North Whitehead

Art heightens the sense of humanity. It gives an elation to feeling which is supernatural...A million sunsets will not spur us on…

— Alfred North Whitehead

A race preserves its vigor so long as it harbors a real contrast between what has been and what may be; and…

— Alfred North Whitehead

In a living civilization there is always an element of unrest, for sensitiveness to ideas means curiosity, adventure, change. Civilized order survives…

— Alfred North Whitehead

The worth of men consists in their liability to persuasion. . . . Civilisation is the maintenance of social order, by its…

— Alfred North Whitehead

The vigour of civilised societies is preserved by the widespread sense that high aims are worth while. Vigorous societies harbour a certain…

— Alfred North Whitehead

The worth of men consists in their liability to persuasion. They can persuade and can be persuaded by the disclosure of alternatives,…

— Alfred North Whitehead