--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nearly all great civilizations that…" description: "\"Nearly all great civilizations that perished did so because they had crystallized, because they were incapable of adapting themselves to new conditions..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/eleanor-roosevelt-381_adapting_nearly-all-great-civilizations-that-peri_1094077.jpg" --- # Nearly all great civilizations that perished did so… ![“Nearly all great civilizations that perished did so because they had crystallized, because they were incapable of adapting themselves to new conditions, new methods, new points of view. It is as though people would rather die than change.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/eleanor-roosevelt-381_adapting_nearly-all-great-civilizations-that-peri_1094077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/eleanor-roosevelt-381_adapting_nearly-all-great-civilizations-that-peri_1094077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/eleanor-roosevelt-381_adapting_nearly-all-great-civilizations-that-peri_1094077.jpg) > “Nearly all great civilizations that perished did so because they had crystallized, because they were incapable of adapting themselves to new conditions, new methods, new points of view. It is as though people would rather die than change.” [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilizations fail when they become rigid and cannot adjust to new realities, leading to their downfall. **In simple terms:** Rigidity causes collapse. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility. Themes change adaptability civilization history rigidity Mood reflective serious Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - business strategy - public policy - personal growth - organizational change Key Concepts Cultural evolution systems thinking resilience Questions to Reflect On - What structures keep societies inflexible? - How can we foster openness to new ideas? A Different Perspective Change can be painful and resisted, making adaptation difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilizations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilizations/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) ## Related quotes > [Civilizations may clash, but they surely fall if robbed of light from above. It could come from the 1 percent or the 99%, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-forbes/civilizations-may-clash-but-they-surely-fall-if-robbed-of-light-from/) [James A. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-forbes/) > [All great civilizations, in their early stages, are based on success in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/all-great-civilizations-in-their-early-stages-are-based-on-success-in/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [The average age of the world's great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/the-average-age-of-the-world-s-great-civilizations-has-been-two/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [Historically, if you look at great civilizations, why do they crumble? Is it because of what's outside or because of something internal? It's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phylicia-rashad/historically-if-you-look-at-great-civilizations-why-do-they-crumble/) [Phylicia Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phylicia-rashad/) > [We are like ignorant shepherds living on a site where great civilizations once flourished. The shepherds play with the fragments that pop up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/we-are-like-ignorant-shepherds-living-on-a-site-where-great-2/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [The Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations have perished; Hammurabi, Sargon and Nebuchadnezzar are empty names; yet Babylonian mathematics is still interesting, and the Babylonian scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/the-babylonian-and-assyrian-civilizations-have-perished-hammurabi/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [“Therefore, good-bye Columbus? Balzac once suggested that all great fortunes are founded on a crime. So too all great civilizations. The European conquest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/therefore-good-bye-columbus-balzac-once-suggested-that-all-great/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [This world has seen a great many civilizations. And many of them have survived for longer periods than ours up to the present. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/this-world-has-seen-a-great-many-civilizations-and-many-of-them-have/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [“People, not commercial organizations or chains of command, are what make great civilizations work. Every civilization depends upon the quality of the individuals it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/people-not-commercial-organizations-or-chains-of-command-are-what/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [What you of the CHOAM directorate seem unable to understand is that you seldom find real loyalties in commerce. ... Men must want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/what-you-of-the-choam-directorate-seem-unable-to-understand-is-that/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [We are like ignorant shepherds living on a site where great civilizations once flourished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/we-are-like-ignorant-shepherds-living-on-a-site-where-great/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [“Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of all the institutions that purport to do this, free libraries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/access-to-knowledge-is-the-superb-the-supreme-act-of-truly-great/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Each succeeding civilization forgets its predecessor. Civilizations are ghouls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gutzon-borglum/each-succeeding-civilization-forgets-its-predecessor-civilizations/) [Gutzon Borglum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gutzon-borglum/) > [In all civilizations we've studied, all cultures that we know of across the Earth and across time have invested some kind of attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-all-civilizations-we-ve-studied-all-cultures-that-we-know-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We civilizations now know ourselves mortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/we-civilizations-now-know-ourselves-mortal/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) ## More by Eleanor Roosevelt > [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [To be mature you have to realize what you value most... Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one's own values is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-mature-you-have-to-realize-what-you-value-most-not-to-arrive-at/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm enormously interested in freedom and retaining the right to have whatever economy we want and to shape it as we want and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-m-enormously-interested-in-freedom-and-retaining-the-right-to-have/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-destiny-of-human-rights-is-in-the-hands-of-all-our-citizens-in/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-can-never-really-live-anyone-else-s-life-not-even-your-child-s/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“One of the things I believe most intensely is that every child’s why should be answered with care—and with respect. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-things-i-believe-most-intensely-is-that-every-child-s-why/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-want-a-free-and-peaceful-world-if-we-want-to-make-the-deserts/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Explore all 612 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More Adapting quotes > [For a struggling filmmaker running low on ideas, public domain is all we have for adapting books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/for-a-struggling-filmmaker-running-low-on-ideas-public-domain-is-all/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [If I can do concert recitals, adapting the repertoire to my needs, then no problem, that's good enough. But with operas, unless the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-i-can-do-concert-recitals-adapting-the-repertoire-to-my-needs-then/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabinho/firmino-is-a-player-who-is-really-good-at-adapting-to-different/) [Fabinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabinho/) > [Martial arts is not about picking your fights and picking how things go; it's about adapting to the how things are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-nelson/martial-arts-is-not-about-picking-your-fights-and-picking-how-things/) [Gunnar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-nelson/) > [I'm not in the business of adapting things that are popular for the sake of just getting it on the screen. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-adapting-things-that-are-popular-for-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I'm always a big advocate for adapting to your new team, your new country and your new team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-m-always-a-big-advocate-for-adapting-to-your-new-team-your-new/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/cinema-reflects-culture-and-there-is-no-harm-in-adapting-technology/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The fact that I made a special movie with an old-fashioned style - even if it's a mix between with modern and old-fashioned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-fact-that-i-made-a-special-movie-with-an-old-fashioned-style-even/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I believe in having a few pupils at one time as it requires a constant alert observation of each individual in order to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-believe-in-having-a-few-pupils-at-one-time-as-it-requires-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The brain is constantly adapting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-brain-is-constantly-adapting/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-people-who-have-been-successful/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [“(T)his is precisely the importance of the world-view described in the Book of Changes: there is no situation without a way out. All situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-and-hellmut-wilhelm/t-his-is-precisely-the-importance-of-the-world-view-described-in-the/) Richard and Hellmut Wilhelm > [Man is a shrewd inventor, and is ever taking the hint of a new machine from his own structure, adapting some secret of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-a-shrewd-inventor-and-is-ever-taking-the-hint-of-a-new-machine/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/sport-is-not-about-being-wrapped-up-in-cotton-wool-sport-as-about/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) Browse all 251 Adapting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nearly all great civilizations that perished did so because they had crystallized, because they were incapable of adapting themselves to new conditions, new methods, new points of view. 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