Civilisation Quote by Alain de Botton
““How quickly all the advantages of technological civilisation are wiped out by a domestic squabble. At the beginning of human history, as we struggled to light fires and to chisel fallen trees into rudimentary canoes, who could have predicted that long after we had managed to send men to the moon and aeroplanes to Australasia, we would still have trouble knowing how to tolerate ourselves, forgive our loved ones and apologise for our tantrums?””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Travel, 2002
Technological progress outpaces moral development; we still struggle with basic human relations.
In simple terms: Tech advances, but empathy lags.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate empathy alongside innovation.
Themes
technology
human nature
conflict
forgiveness
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- teamwork
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
- education
Key Concepts
ethical development
social cohesion
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster empathy in a tech‑driven world?
- What practices nurture forgiveness?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on tech can ignore emotional intelligence.
![“[The goal is] "liberation from the bondage of rebirth. According to the Vedantists the self, which they call the atman and we call the soul, is distinct from the body and its senses, distinct from the mind and its intelligence; it is not part of the Absolute, for the Absolute, being infinite, can…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba2/w-somerset-maugham-237_different-level_the-goal-is-liberation-from-the-bondage_799590.jpg)
