Civilisation Quote by Anonymous
“It was a truism that all civilizations were basically neurotic until they made contact with everybody else and found their place within the ever-changing meta-civilisation of other beings, because, until then, during the stage when they honestly believed they might be entirely alone in existence, all solo societies were possessed of both an inflated sense of their own importance and a kind of existential terror at the sheer scale and apparent emptiness of the universe.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Anonymous philosophical piece, 2020
Civilizations feel isolated until they encounter others, then their self‑importance shrinks and existential fear rises.
In simple terms: Isolation inflates ego and fear until contact.
Seek broader perspectives to reduce ego.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic seminars
- cultural exchange programs
- global policy discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What changes when societies meet?
- How does contact reshape identity?
The view may overlook cooperation benefits.