--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Civilization consists in the…" description: "\"Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.\" — Robert Andrews Millikan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png" --- # Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement… ![“Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.” quote by Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png) > “Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.” [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilization advances by creating and refining more desires, driving progress and complexity. **In simple terms:** Civilization grows by multiplying and refining wants. Key Takeaway Understand how desire shapes societal development. Themes progress economics culture Mood analytical thoughtful Type sociological economic When to use this quote - marketing - urban planning - product design Key Concepts consumerism innovation desire social evolution Questions to Reflect On - How do our desires shape our world? - Can refinement of wants be sustainable? A Different Perspective Desire can lead to overconsumption and environmental strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Refinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refinement/) ## Related quotes > [Art is not vague production, transitory and isolated, but a power which must be directed to the improvement and refinement of the human soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/art-is-not-vague-production-transitory-and-isolated-but-a-power-which/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Civilization consists in giving something an unfitting name, then dream about the result. And indeed the false name and the real dream create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/civilization-consists-in-giving-something-an-unfitting-name-then/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [The world is agreed that labor is the source from which human wants are mainly supplied. There is no dispute upon this point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-world-is-agreed-that-labor-is-the-source-from-which-human-wants/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe a human being - if he or she wants to remain human, then he or she must do something with what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-believe-a-human-being-if-he-or-she-wants-to-remain-human-then-he-or/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Everything a human being wants can be divided into four components: love, adventure, power and fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-heywood/everything-a-human-being-wants-can-be-divided-into-four-components/) Matthew Heywood > [It's a lot of fun to get in there and test yourself out against another human being that wants to punch your lights out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/it-s-a-lot-of-fun-to-get-in-there-and-test-yourself-out-against/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [Surely human can do what he wants but he can't want what he wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erdem/surely-human-can-do-what-he-wants-but-he-can-t-want-what-he-wants/) [Erdem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erdem/) > [“A saint is a human being who neither wants nor needs to hurt you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fitzgerald/a-saint-is-a-human-being-who-neither-wants-nor-needs-to-hurt-you/) [Judith Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fitzgerald/) > [“I was a human being, and had a human being's wants: I must not linger where there was nothing to supply them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-was-a-human-being-and-had-a-human-being-s-wants-i-must-not-linger/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [No human being who wants to read and own a book should ever have to go on a bended knee to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/no-human-being-who-wants-to-read-and-own-a-book-should-ever-have-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Naturally, the human being wants to forget pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/naturally-the-human-being-wants-to-forget-pain/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I think each human being wants to make their mark on the world in whatever way they can, and maybe everyone has a slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-think-each-human-being-wants-to-make-their-mark-on-the-world-in/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [Every human always wants more. We're never satisfied. True happiness doesn't come until we're fully satisfied with what we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-human-always-wants-more-we-re-never-satisfied-true-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In all social systems there must be a class to do the menial duties, to perform the drudgery of life. That is, a class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-henry-hammond/in-all-social-systems-there-must-be-a-class-to-do-the-menial-duties/) [James Henry Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-henry-hammond/) > [I find theater very lazy and artificial, and then when it's not, it lacks refinement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-tsakos/i-find-theater-very-lazy-and-artificial-and-then-when-it-s-not-it/) [Natasha Tsakos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-tsakos/) ## More by Robert Andrews Millikan > [Just how we fit into the plans of the Great Architect and how much he has assigned us to do we do not know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/just-how-we-fit-into-the-plans-of-the-great-architect-and-how-much-he/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom. The glib supposition of utilizing atomic energy when our coal has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/there-is-no-likelihood-man-can-ever-tap-the-power-of-the-atom-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [One of the chief inhibitions to human progress arises because of the extreme slowness with which the advances in knowledge become translated into action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/one-of-the-chief-inhibitions-to-human-progress-arises-because-of-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [The fact that Science walks forward on two feet, namely theory and experiment, is nowhere better illustrated than in the two fields for slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/the-fact-that-science-walks-forward-on-two-feet-namely-theory-and/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [The pathetic thing about it is that many scientists are trying to prove the doctrine of evolution, which no science can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/the-pathetic-thing-about-it-is-that-many-scientists-are-trying-to/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [There is no likelihood that man can ever tap the power of the atom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/there-is-no-likelihood-that-man-can-ever-tap-the-power-of-the-atom/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [To me it is unthinkable that a real atheist could be a scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/to-me-it-is-unthinkable-that-a-real-atheist-could-be-a-scientist/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Science walks forward on two feet, namely theory and experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/science-walks-forward-on-two-feet-namely-theory-and-experiment/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [We have been forced to admit for the first time in history not only the possibility of the fact of the growth and decay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/we-have-been-forced-to-admit-for-the-first-time-in-history-not-only/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Cultivate the habit of attention and try to gain opportunities to hear wise men and women talk. Indifference and inattention are the two most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/cultivate-the-habit-of-attention-and-try-to-gain-opportunities-to/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [The purpose of science is to develop, without prejudice or preconception of any kind, a knowledge of the facts, the laws, and the processes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/the-purpose-of-science-is-to-develop-without-prejudice-or/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Interest and attention will insure to you an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/interest-and-attention-will-insure-to-you-an-education/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Fullness of knowledge always and necessarily means some understanding of the depths of our ignorance, and that is always conducive to both humility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/fullness-of-knowledge-always-and-necessarily-means-some-understanding/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [I conceive the essential task of religion to be "to develop the consciences, the ideals, and the aspirations of mankind".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/i-conceive-the-essential-task-of-religion-to-be-to-develop-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [From that night on, the electron-up to that time largely the plaything of the scientist-had clearly entered the field as a potent agent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/from-that-night-on-the-electron-up-to-that-time-largely-the-plaything/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) [Explore all 29 Robert Andrews Millikan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/our-laws-and-our-institutions-must-necessarily-be-based-upon-and/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 4,084 Civilization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Andrews Millikan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/civilization-consists-in-the-multiplication-and-refinement-of-human/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civilization" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/civilization-consists-in-the-multiplication-and-refinement-of-human/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/robert-andrews-millikan-21380_civilization_civilization-consists-in-the-multiplicat_495165.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Civilization consists in the multiplication and refinement of human wants.” — Robert Andrews Millikan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Andrews Millikan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Civilization consists in the multiplication and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/civilization-consists-in-the-multiplication-and-refinement-of-human/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/civilization-consists-in-the-multiplication-and-refinement-of-human/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```