--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civilization - and by this I do not mean…" description: "\"Civilization - and by this I do not mean talking cinemas and tinned food, nor even surgery and hygienic houses, but the whole moral and artistic organi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/evelyn-waugh-850_accepting_civilization-and-by-this-i-do-not-mean-t_2546064.png" --- # Civilization - and by this I do not mean talking cinemas… ![“Civilization - and by this I do not mean talking cinemas and tinned food, nor even surgery and hygienic houses, but the whole moral and artistic organization of Europe - has not in itself the power of survival. It came into being through Christianity, and without it has no significance or power to…” quote by Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/evelyn-waugh-850_accepting_civilization-and-by-this-i-do-not-mean-t_2546064.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/evelyn-waugh-850_accepting_civilization-and-by-this-i-do-not-mean-t_2546064.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/evelyn-waugh-850_accepting_civilization-and-by-this-i-do-not-mean-t_2546064.png) > “Civilization - and by this I do not mean talking cinemas and tinned food, nor even surgery and hygienic houses, but the whole moral and artistic organization of Europe - has not in itself the power of survival. It came into being through Christianity, and without it has no significance or power to command allegiance ... It is no longer possible, as it was in the time of Gibbon, to accept the benefits of civilization and at the same time deny the supernatural basis on which it rests ... Christianity ... is in greater need of combative strength than it has been for centuries.” [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilization’s moral and artistic core depends on Christianity; without it, its power and cohesion fade. **In simple terms:** Christianity underpins Europe’s cultural strength. Key Takeaway Recognize spiritual foundations in cultural identity. Themes culture religion identity history politics Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - education curricula - policy debates - interfaith dialogue - heritage preservation Key Concepts theology civilizational theory social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How does faith shape cultural resilience? - Can societies thrive without a shared spiritual base? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on religion may ignore secular contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegiance/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) ## Related quotes > [It is no longer possible to accept the benefits of civilization and at the same time deny the supernatural basis upon which it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/it-is-no-longer-possible-to-accept-the-benefits-of-civilization-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Civilization – and by this I do not mean talking cinemas and tinned food, nor even surgery and hygienic houses, but the whole moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/civilization-and-by-this-i-do-not-mean-talking-cinemas-and-tinned-2/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [All who have been great and good without Christianity would have been much greater and better with it. If there be, amongst the sons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/all-who-have-been-great-and-good-without-christianity-would-have-been/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [What does civilization mean to you, and what would its ending bring to the world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/what-does-civilization-mean-to-you-and-what-would-its-ending-bring-to/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [“Custer wrote, “I often think I would greatly prefer to cast my lot among those of my people adhered to the free open plains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-philbrick/custer-wrote-i-often-think-i-would-greatly-prefer-to-cast-my-lot/) [Nathaniel Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-philbrick/) > [“ I am torn between the freedom of this adventure and the benefits of civilization despite its constraints.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/i-am-torn-between-the-freedom-of-this-adventure-and-the-benefits-of/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [My belief is firm in a law of compensation. The true rewards are ever in proportion to the labor and sacrifices made. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/my-belief-is-firm-in-a-law-of-compensation-the-true-rewards-are-ever/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/all-civilization-has-from-time-to-time-become-a-thin-crust-over-a/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [The broken eggshell of a civilization which time has hatched and devoured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/the-broken-eggshell-of-a-civilization-which-time-has-hatched-and/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Civilization...is a matter of imponderables, of delight in the thins of the mind, of love of beauty, of honor, grace, courtesy, delicate feeling. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/civilization-is-a-matter-of-imponderables-of-delight-in-the-thins-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/there-is-no-document-of-civilization-which-is-not-at-the-same-time-a/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Civilization in our time is driven by materialism and troubled by pollution, over-population, corruption, and violence. National parks can hardly be uncoupled from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-frome/civilization-in-our-time-is-driven-by-materialism-and-troubled-by/) [Michael Frome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-frome/) > [There is no document of civilization that is not at the same time a document of barbarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/there-is-no-document-of-civilization-that-is-not-at-the-same-time-a/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [I was under the influence of the early modern masters, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck and Hemingway, especially, when I was a kid. I reacted against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stone/i-was-under-the-influence-of-the-early-modern-masters-fitzgerald-and/) [Robert Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stone/) > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) ## More by Evelyn Waugh > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [One can write, think and pray exclusively of others; dreams are all egocentric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/one-can-write-think-and-pray-exclusively-of-others-dreams-are-all/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Sometimes," Helena continued, "I have a terrible dream of the future. Not now, but presently, people may forget their loyalty to their kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-helena-continued-i-have-a-terrible-dream-of-the-future-not/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Rex has never been unkind to me intentionally. It's just that he isn't a real person at all; he's just a few faculties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/rex-has-never-been-unkind-to-me-intentionally-it-s-just-that-he-isn-t/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [If it could only be like this always – always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe and Aloysius in a good temper...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-it-could-only-be-like-this-always-always-summer-always-alone-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“My dear, I should like to stick you full of barbed arrows like a p-p-pin cushion...Where do you lurk? I shall come down your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/my-dear-i-should-like-to-stick-you-full-of-barbed-arrows-like-a-p-p/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [There is something incomparably thrilling in first opening a brand new book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/there-is-something-incomparably-thrilling-in-first-opening-a-brand/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Beware the Anglo-Catholics. They're all sodomites with unpleasant accents." --Cousin Jasper”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/beware-the-anglo-catholics-they-re-all-sodomites-with-unpleasant/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“The fortnight at Venice passed quickly and sweetly-- perhaps too sweetly; I was drowning in honey, stingless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-fortnight-at-venice-passed-quickly-and-sweetly-perhaps-too/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“It’s awful to think that I shall probably never, as long as I live, see you dancing like that again all by yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/it-s-awful-to-think-that-i-shall-probably-never-as-long-as-i-live-see/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be-bad-again-punished-again-but/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Limbo is the place. In Limbo one has natural happiness without the beatific vision; no harps; no communal order; but wine and conversation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/limbo-is-the-place-in-limbo-one-has-natural-happiness-without-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“What is adolescence without trash?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/what-is-adolescence-without-trash/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Perhaps host and guest is really the happiest relation for father and son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/perhaps-host-and-guest-is-really-the-happiest-relation-for-father-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) [Explore all 347 Evelyn Waugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Civilization - and by this I do not mean talking cinemas and tinned food, nor even surgery and hygienic houses, but the whole moral and artistic organization of Europe - has not in itself the power of survival. It came into being through Christianity, and without it has no significance or power to command allegiance ... It is no longer possible, as it was in the time of Gibbon, to accept the benefits of civilization and at the same time deny the supernatural basis on which it rests ... 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