Active Quote by Cyril Connolly
“Civilization is an active deposit which is formed by the combustion of the present with the past. Neither in countries without a Present nor in those without a Past is it to be encountered. Proust in Venice, Matisse's birdcages overlooking the flower market at Nice, Gide on the seventeenth-century quais of Toulon, Lorca in Granada, Picasso by Saint-Germain-des-Pr?s: there lies civilization and for me it can exist only under those liberal regimes in which the Present is alive and therefore capable of assimilating the Past.”
About This Quote
He describes civilization as a blend of present and past, needing liberal regimes.
In simple terms: Civilization merges present and past under liberalism.
Key Takeaway
Support cultures that honor history and innovation.
Themes
civilization
history
politics
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
cultural
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy
- heritage preservation
Key Concepts
cultural synthesis
liberalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance tradition and progress?
- What risks exist?
A Different Perspective
May idealize liberal regimes.
