--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the line of thought that I'd been…" description: "\"But the line of thought that I'd been chasing for several days was implicit in the ruins of the old Roman Empire, which gradually destroyed itself by s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/lewis-h-lapham-7190_army_but-the-line-of-thought-that-i-d-been-ch_2313996.jpg" --- # But the line of thought that I'd been chasing for several… ![“But the line of thought that I'd been chasing for several days was implicit in the ruins of the old Roman Empire, which gradually destroyed itself by substituting the faith in a legion of miraculous words for the strength of armies and the weight of walls.” quote by Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/lewis-h-lapham-7190_army_but-the-line-of-thought-that-i-d-been-ch_2313996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/lewis-h-lapham-7190_army_but-the-line-of-thought-that-i-d-been-ch_2313996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/lewis-h-lapham-7190_army_but-the-line-of-thought-that-i-d-been-ch_2313996.jpg) > “But the line of thought that I'd been chasing for several days was implicit in the ruins of the old Roman Empire, which gradually destroyed itself by substituting the faith in a legion of miraculous words for the strength of armies and the weight of walls.” [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) ## 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 societies can erode when they replace tangible power—military and infrastructure—with empty rhetoric and belief in miraculous language. **In simple terms:** Relying on words instead of real strength leads to decay. Key Takeaway Prioritize concrete action over lofty talk. Themes civilization power language decay Mood cautious reflective Type critical historical When to use this quote - political discourse - military planning - cultural analysis - policy making Key Concepts imperialism ideology symbolic power Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance rhetoric with practical strength? - When does symbolic language become harmful? A Different Perspective Words alone cannot sustain a civilization without material support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Legion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legion/) [Miraculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miraculous/) [Roman empire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roman-empire/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Roman\] society became steadily more cosmopolitan. By 212 A.D., all inhabitants of the empire, except for slaves, were deemed to be citizens. The old… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/roman-society-became-steadily-more-cosmopolitan-by-212-a-d-all/) [Norman F. 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