Country Quote by J. R. R. Tolkien
“Much evil must befall a country before it ever really forgets the Elves, if once they lived there.”
About This Quote
A nation may ignore past evils until they become too great, forgetting the lessons of earlier transgressions.
In simple terms: Nations forget past evils.
Key Takeaway
Learn from history.
Themes
history
memory
justice
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- national policy
- education
- reconciliation
Key Concepts
collective memory
political cycles
Questions to Reflect On
- What warnings does history give?
- How can societies retain memory?
A Different Perspective
Denial can delay necessary change.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
