--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civilization... is another word for…" description: "\"“Civilization... is another word for respect for life. One can't have too much respect for a loveliness that's brittle as spun glass.”\" — Elizabeth Goudge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/elizabeth-goudge-2888_civilization_civilization-is-another-word-for-respect_3232391.png" --- # Civilization... is another word for respect for life. One… ![“Civilization... is another word for respect for life. One can't have too much respect for a loveliness that's brittle as spun glass.” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/elizabeth-goudge-2888_civilization_civilization-is-another-word-for-respect_3232391.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/elizabeth-goudge-2888_civilization_civilization-is-another-word-for-respect_3232391.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/elizabeth-goudge-2888_civilization_civilization-is-another-word-for-respect_3232391.png) > ““Civilization... is another word for respect for life. One can't have too much respect for a loveliness that's brittle as spun glass.”” [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author equates civilization with reverence for life, emphasizing fragile beauty that deserves deep respect. **In simple terms:** Civilization means respecting life’s fragile beauty. Key Takeaway Cultivate reverence for all living things. Themes environment beauty respect for life Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - conservation work - artistic creation - education curricula Key Concepts ethical philosophy aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - How can we translate reverence into daily actions? - What does “fragile as spun glass” imply about life? A Different Perspective Respect can be abstract and hard to practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect For Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-for-life/) [Respect life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-life/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. Whatever it is that lives, a man, a tree, or a bird, should be touched gently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-living-should-ever-be-treated-with-contempt-whatever-it-is/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [There's no such thing as civilization. The word just means the art of living in cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/there-s-no-such-thing-as-civilization-the-word-just-means-the-art-of/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [“... civilization—a word that simply means "living in cities..." Excerpt From: Standage, Tom. “A History of the World In 6 Glasses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/civilization-a-word-that-simply-means-living-in-cities-excerpt-from/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [Discipline for me is about respect. It's not even about self-respect; it's about respect for life and all it offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/discipline-for-me-is-about-respect-it-s-not-even-about-self-respect/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Respect for life and for the dignity of the human person also extends to the rest of creation, which is called to join man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/respect-for-life-and-for-the-dignity-of-the-human-person-also-extends/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [It seems to me of great importance to teach children respect for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/it-seems-to-me-of-great-importance-to-teach-children-respect-for-life/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I have a great amount of respect for life, and I always think that no matter how bad situations get, you can always make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-knox/i-have-a-great-amount-of-respect-for-life-and-i-always-think-that-no/) [Amanda Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-knox/) > [By respect for life we become religious in a way that is elementary, profound and alive. 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It dehumanizes people and promotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/it-should-be-clear-that-the-death-penalty-does-just-the-opposite-of/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [As days turned into weeks, then months, then years, we pressed forwardstronger and with a greater respect for life and understanding of ourselves. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirgha/as-days-turned-into-weeks-then-months-then-years-we-pressed/) [Dirgha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirgha/) > [There is no way that anyone could experience a war and witness all the horror that it brings without gaining a greater respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/there-is-no-way-that-anyone-could-experience-a-war-and-witness-all/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [For you deal here above all with human life, and human life is sacred; no one may dare make an attempt upon it. Respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/for-you-deal-here-above-all-with-human-life-and-human-life-is-sacred/) [Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/) > [Remember the three R's: Respect for life, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-the-three-r-s-respect-for-life-respect-for-others-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Elizabeth Goudge > [“He strolled to the front door and stood watching, letting the picture of Felicity grave itself so deeply on his mind that when with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-strolled-to-the-front-door-and-stood-watching-letting-the-picture/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I have known him nearly all my life, and I am going to marry him, so that there won't ever be a time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-have-known-him-nearly-all-my-life-and-i-am-going-to-marry-him-so/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Because of course she had known she must go. She always did the thing because in obedience lay the integrity that God asked of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/because-of-course-she-had-known-she-must-go-she-always-did-the-thing/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Marriage is a very long process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/marriage-is-a-very-long-process/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Being ill makes you feel what well people call sentimental, but what you feel is nonetheless genuine whatever they call it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/being-ill-makes-you-feel-what-well-people-call-sentimental-but-what/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. 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Day and night, life and death, love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/could-you-understand-the-meaning-of-light-if-there-were-no-darkness/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [A well-trained dog is like religion, it sets the deserving at their ease and is a terror to evildoers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/a-well-trained-dog-is-like-religion-it-sets-the-deserving-at-their/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The sun is still there... even if clouds drift over it. Once you have experienced the reality of sunshine you may weep, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-sun-is-still-there-even-if-clouds-drift-over-it-once-you-have/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [ \[Salvation\] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine-burglary-the-first-thing-to/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The lovers of life, they are children at heart always in their wonder and delight, but they do not grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-lovers-of-life-they-are-children-at-heart-always-in-their-wonder/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Our home, our special country, is for all of us the place where we find liberation; a very difficult word ... that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/our-home-our-special-country-is-for-all-of-us-the-place-where-we-find/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) [Explore all 144 Elizabeth Goudge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. 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