--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These strengths, and our civilization in…" description: "\"These strengths, and our civilization in general, have reached an apogee with the end of the apocalyptic threats of the Cold War and the end - or at le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/arthur-demarest-40360_21st-century_these-strengths-and-our-civilization-in_991972.jpg" --- # These strengths, and our civilization in general, have… ![“These strengths, and our civilization in general, have reached an apogee with the end of the apocalyptic threats of the Cold War and the end - or at least waning - of less successful, and ultimately less "just," political and economic systems. At the turn of the 21st century we appear to be…” quote by Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/arthur-demarest-40360_21st-century_these-strengths-and-our-civilization-in_991972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/arthur-demarest-40360_21st-century_these-strengths-and-our-civilization-in_991972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af1/arthur-demarest-40360_21st-century_these-strengths-and-our-civilization-in_991972.jpg) > “These strengths, and our civilization in general, have reached an apogee with the end of the apocalyptic threats of the Cold War and the end - or at least waning - of less successful, and ultimately less "just," political and economic systems. At the turn of the 21st century we appear to be entering our greatest century, a golden age. The challenge that we face is similar to that of the Classic Maya civilization: we have set in motion a "runaway train" of success.” [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human civilization has entered a period of unprecedented potential, but unchecked success can become a self‑reinforcing cycle that may be hard to control. **In simple terms:** We are at a high point but must manage runaway progress. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with humility. Themes progress civilization risk history future Mood optimistic cautious Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - policy planning - technology development - environmental management - educational reform Key Concepts systems dynamics civilizational theory entropy sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure growth remains sustainable? - What safeguards prevent a “runaway train” of progress? A Different Perspective Success can create new challenges that outpace our ability to adapt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Economic system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-system/) [Golden age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden-age/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The worth of men consists in their liability to persuasion. They can persuade and can be persuaded by the disclosure of alternatives, the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-worth-of-men-consists-in-their-liability-to-persuasion-they-can/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“Civilization is the general agreement to refrain from resorting to violence if negotiations fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/civilization-is-the-general-agreement-to-refrain-from-resorting-to/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [The key strengths of civilizations are also their central weaknesses. You can see that from the fact that the golden ages of civilizations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/the-key-strengths-of-civilizations-are-also-their-central-weaknesses/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) > [At 13, when I was a runaway, I was taken in by the most amazing drag queens in Portland, Ore. 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During localization, their black and white suits were made more colorful to avoid legal action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baumann/the-runaway-five-s-obvious-influence-is-the-blues-brothers-during/) [Ken Baumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baumann/) > [As a kid, in the Runaways, I would see the interviewers start to ask about our personal lives and what we did — and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/as-a-kid-in-the-runaways-i-would-see-the-interviewers-start-to-ask/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) ## More by Arthur Demarest > [“When you examine societies just as self-confident as ours that unraveled and were eventually swallowed by the jungle...you see that the balance between ecology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/when-you-examine-societies-just-as-self-confident-as-ours-that/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) > [When there is pressure for leaders to respond to problems or crises, they often simply intensify their efforts in their particular defined sphere of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/when-there-is-pressure-for-leaders-to-respond-to-problems-or-crises/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) > [One of our great strength, world capitalism, is the most successful economic system possible, but has also become one of shorter and shorter cycles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/one-of-our-great-strength-world-capitalism-is-the-most-successful/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) > [The key strengths of civilizations are also their central weaknesses. 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History demonstrates that expectations of infinite growth lead to collapse. Unfortunately, millennia of evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/no-society-can-sustain-unlimited-growth-none-ever-has-history/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) > [Leaders may recognize that they are not addressing the real problems, but they rationalize their actions with the argument that they must first politically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/leaders-may-recognize-that-they-are-not-addressing-the-real-problems/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) > [With apologies to the green movement, "sustainability" is a myth. History and archaeology show that societies are always moving to the edge of crisis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-demarest/with-apologies-to-the-green-movement-sustainability-is-a-myth-history/) [Arthur Demarest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) [Explore all 11 Arthur Demarest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-demarest/) ## More 21st century quotes > [The young people today are the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/the-young-people-today-are-the-21st-century/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [“You know it’s the 21st Century when someone TEXTS you from the washroom to ask you to bring them a roll of toilet paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/you-know-it-s-the-21st-century-when-someone-texts-you-from-the/) Comic Strip Mama > [“I am made of a thousand ghosts. Only you can shoot me down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-james/i-am-made-of-a-thousand-ghosts-only-you-can-shoot-me-down/) Bella James > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/undeniably-character-does-count-for-our-citizens-out-communities-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Maybe we need a tax credit for the poorest Americans to buy a laptop. Now, maybe that's wrong, maybe that's expensive, maybe we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/maybe-we-need-a-tax-credit-for-the-poorest-americans-to-buy-a-laptop/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [The 20th century has been marked by cynicism, selfishness, greed, and the desire to please, all without changing the status quo. In the 21st…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/the-20th-century-has-been-marked-by-cynicism-selfishness-greed-and/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-firmly-believe-that-the-mission-of-religion-in-the-21st-century/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Facebook, Twitter...Welcome to The 21st Century...Where Someone can stalk you without leaving the couch!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-twitter-welcome-to-the-21st-century-where-someone-can-stalk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human Race is all over universe! And I am the first person to inform you. I am the most influential person of this decade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwani-kumar-ojha/human-race-is-all-over-universe-and-i-am-the-first-person-to-inform/) [Ashwani Kumar Ojha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwani-kumar-ojha/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [What I love about making albums in the 21st century is that so few people buy albums! I can make an album without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-i-love-about-making-albums-in-the-21st-century-is-that-so-few/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [The computer provides the only way to give students a real foundation in 21st-century skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/the-computer-provides-the-only-way-to-give-students-a-real-foundation/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) Browse all 771 21st century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "These strengths, and our civilization in general, have reached an apogee with the end of the apocalyptic threats of the Cold War and the end - or at least waning - of less successful, and ultimately less \"just,\" political and economic systems. 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