--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barring a miracle, the family that has…" description: "\"Barring a miracle, the family that has existed since antiquity will likely crumble, presaging the fall of Western civilization itself. This is a time f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/james-dobson-4773_antiquity_barring-a-miracle-the-family-that-has-ex_2473532.jpg" --- # Barring a miracle, the family that has existed since… ![“Barring a miracle, the family that has existed since antiquity will likely crumble, presaging the fall of Western civilization itself. This is a time for concerted prayer, divine wisdom and greater courage than we have ever been called upon to exercise.” quote by James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/james-dobson-4773_antiquity_barring-a-miracle-the-family-that-has-ex_2473532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/james-dobson-4773_antiquity_barring-a-miracle-the-family-that-has-ex_2473532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e55/james-dobson-4773_antiquity_barring-a-miracle-the-family-that-has-ex_2473532.jpg) > “Barring a miracle, the family that has existed since antiquity will likely crumble, presaging the fall of Western civilization itself. This is a time for concerted prayer, divine wisdom and greater courage than we have ever been called upon to exercise.” [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that the collapse of traditional families could signal broader societal decline, urging prayer and moral courage. **In simple terms:** Family breakdown may lead to cultural collapse; pray and act bravely. Key Takeaway Strengthen family values and seek divine guidance. Themes family civilization morality faith courage Mood concerned hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - church gatherings - family counseling - community outreach - policy debates Key Concepts sociology theology cultural decay Questions to Reflect On - How can families adapt without losing core values? - What role does faith play in societal resilience? A Different Perspective It may overstate the direct link between family structures and civilization fate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antiquity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiquity/) [Barring Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barring-miracle-727215/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-wisdom/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Likely Crumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely-crumble-786149/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miracle Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle-family-786148/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“He knew what he could certainly do, and what he might do if he was lucky, and what he couldn’t do barring a miracle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/he-knew-what-he-could-certainly-do-and-what-he-might-do-if-he-was/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [This freedom of political discussion on the highest level is something which Western civilization has in common with that of classical antiquity, but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/this-freedom-of-political-discussion-on-the-highest-level-is/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [I am a steadfast follower of the doctrine of non-violence which was first preached by Lord Buddha, whose divine wisdom is absolute...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-a-steadfast-follower-of-the-doctrine-of-non-violence-which-was/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It is human misery and not pleasure which contains the secret of the divine wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/it-is-human-misery-and-not-pleasure-which-contains-the-secret-of-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“For what is it you and I are trying to do now? What I'm trying to do is to attempt to explain to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/for-what-is-it-you-and-i-are-trying-to-do-now-what-i-m-trying-to-do/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [This must be our belief when we have a correct knowledge of our own self, and comprehend the true nature of everything; we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/this-must-be-our-belief-when-we-have-a-correct-knowledge-of-our-own/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [In accordance with the divine wisdom, genesis can only take place through destruction, and without destruction of the individual members of the species the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/in-accordance-with-the-divine-wisdom-genesis-can-only-take-place/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“This is the most excellent and divine wisdom that any creature is capable of. ’Tis more excellent than any human learning; ’tis far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/this-is-the-most-excellent-and-divine-wisdom-that-any-creature-is/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [ “\[Prayer\] is the thirst of ignorance drinking deep draughts from the overflowing fulness of divine wisdom. It is the exhaustion of weakness drawing nerve… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-palmer/prayer-is-the-thirst-of-ignorance-drinking-deep-draughts-from-the/) [Benjamin Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-palmer/) > [A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The human body has been called the microcosm of the universe, a little world of wonders and a monument of divine wisdom and power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/the-human-body-has-been-called-the-microcosm-of-the-universe-a-little/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [The world of pure spirits stretches between the divine nature and the world of human beings; because divine wisdom has ordained that the higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-world-of-pure-spirits-stretches-between-the-divine-nature-and-the/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“My creed on the subject of slavery is short. Slavery per se is not sin. It is a social condition ordained from the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-morse/my-creed-on-the-subject-of-slavery-is-short-slavery-per-se-is-not-sin/) [Samuel Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-morse/) > [The beginning of divine wisdom is clemency and gentleness, which arise from greatness of soul and the bearing of infirmities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-of-nineveh/the-beginning-of-divine-wisdom-is-clemency-and-gentleness-which-arise/) [Isaac of Nineveh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-of-nineveh/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) ## More by James Dobson > [Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and halfway closed there after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/keep-your-eyes-wide-open-before-marriage-and-halfway-closed-there/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Respect is intended to operate on a two-way street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/respect-is-intended-to-operate-on-a-two-way-street/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Conceit is a weird disease - it makes everybody sick except the guy who has it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/conceit-is-a-weird-disease-it-makes-everybody-sick-except-the-guy-who/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Since 1775, when the first Continental Congress called for a national day of prayer, there have been such events called for by almost every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/since-1775-when-the-first-continental-congress-called-for-a-national/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/i-would-not-vote-for-john-mccain-under-any-circumstances/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [A good marriage is not one where perfection reigns: it is a relationship where a healthy perspective overlooks a multitude of "unresolvables."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/a-good-marriage-is-not-one-where-perfection-reigns-it-is-a/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/homosexuals-are-not-monogamous-they-want-to-destroy-the-institution/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [It will always hurt to be laughed at, snubbed, ignored or attacked by others. But I would remind you that the human personality grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/it-will-always-hurt-to-be-laughed-at-snubbed-ignored-or-attacked-by/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [The Lord doesn't always remove the sources of stress in our lives...but He's always there and cares for us. We can feel His arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/the-lord-doesn-t-always-remove-the-sources-of-stress-in-our-lives-but/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [There is only one cure for the cancer of bitterness, that is to forgive the perceived offender. Once and for all, with God's help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/there-is-only-one-cure-for-the-cancer-of-bitterness-that-is-to/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Marriage succeeds only as lifetime commitment with no escape clauses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/marriage-succeeds-only-as-lifetime-commitment-with-no-escape-clauses/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [You have to work to keep love alive; you have to protect it and maintain it, just like you would a delicate flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/you-have-to-work-to-keep-love-alive-you-have-to-protect-it-and/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [To those who say Ted Bundy should burn forever in eternity I would only say, so should I, so should all of us...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/to-those-who-say-ted-bundy-should-burn-forever-in-eternity-i-would/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Although individual temperaments vary, boys are designed to be more assertive, audacious, and excitable than girls are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/although-individual-temperaments-vary-boys-are-designed-to-be-more/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [The institution of the family has very few friends in Washington. There are lobbyists in Washington for every possible entity, from the possum-growers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/the-institution-of-the-family-has-very-few-friends-in-washington/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) [Explore all 106 James Dobson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) ## More Antiquity quotes > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“A very long time ago, some 2.5 million years B.C., the mother of human species as we know it, our ultimate ancestor, appeared in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/a-very-long-time-ago-some-2-5-million-years-b-c-the-mother-of-human/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [What subsists to-day by violence continues to-morrow by acquiescence and is perpetuated by tradition; till at last the hoary abuse shakes the gray hairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/what-subsists-to-day-by-violence-continues-to-morrow-by-acquiescence/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [“Since antiquity, men have defined themselves by those who are excluded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-robinson/since-antiquity-men-have-defined-themselves-by-those-who-are-excluded/) [Jim Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-robinson/) > [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum , or in disputes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [In antiquity there was only silence. In the nineteenth century, with the invention of the machine, Noise was born. Today, Noise triumphs and reigns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-russolo/in-antiquity-there-was-only-silence-in-the-nineteenth-century-with/) [Luigi Russolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-russolo/) > [Arles is certainly one of the most interesting towns I have ever seen, whether viewed as a place remarkable for the objects of antiquity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/arles-is-certainly-one-of-the-most-interesting-towns-i-have-ever-seen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An established government has an infinite advantage, by that very circumstance of its being established--the bulk of mankind being governed by authority, not reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/an-established-government-has-an-infinite-advantage-by-that-very/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [In antiquity slaves were, in all honesty called slaves. In the middle ages, they took the name of serfs. Nowadays they are called wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/in-antiquity-slaves-were-in-all-honesty-called-slaves-in-the-middle/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [I was brought up in Florence, a beautiful medieval town whose rhythm is completely in antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleg-cassini/i-was-brought-up-in-florence-a-beautiful-medieval-town-whose-rhythm/) [Oleg Cassini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleg-cassini/) > [Although Damascus is considered the oldest city in the world, the date of its foundation going beyond tradition, there are very few relics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/although-damascus-is-considered-the-oldest-city-in-the-world-the-date/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [“Educated and ambitious, with their own forthright opinions, the women of the Garvey set did more to determine political direction than many councillors. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-septimius/educated-and-ambitious-with-their-own-forthright-opinions-the-women/) [A. H. Septimius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-septimius/) > [Book burning is a charming old custom, hallowed by antiquity. It has been practiced for centuries by fascists, communists, atheists, school children, rival authors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/book-burning-is-a-charming-old-custom-hallowed-by-antiquity-it-has/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) [Browse all 244 Antiquity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiquity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barring a miracle, the family that has existed since antiquity will likely crumble, presaging the fall of Western civilization itself. 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