Apologetics Quote by Francis A. Schaeffer
““Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire said that the following five attributes marked Rome at its end: first, a mounting love of show and luxury (that is, affluence); second, a widening gap between the very rich and the very poor (this could be among countries in the family of nations as well as in a single nation); third, an obsession with sex; fourth, freakishness in the arts, masquerading as originality, and enthusiasms pretending to be creativity; fifth, an increased desire to live off the state. It all sounds so familiar. We have come a long road since our first chapter, and we are back in Rome.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbon, 1776
Gibbon listed five societal flaws—excessive luxury, widening inequality, sexual obsession, pretentious art, and dependency on the state—as signs of Rome’s decline, warning modern societies of similar risks.
In simple terms: Luxury, inequality, excess, pretension, and dependency threaten societies.
Key Takeaway
Address these flaws to avoid decline.
Themes
societal health
inequality
culture
politics
economics
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- urban planning
- education reform
- media criticism
- social welfare programs
Key Concepts
history
sociology
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Which of these traits appear in today’s culture?
- How can societies balance comfort with responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Modern societies may interpret these signs differently, risking overgeneralization.
