Civilized Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“A nation to be great ought to be compressed in its increment by nations more civilized than itself.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Essays on Poetry and Life, 1829
A nation’s greatness depends on learning from more advanced societies and adopting their progress.
In simple terms: Greatness comes from learning from more advanced cultures.
Key Takeaway
Seek guidance from more civilized nations.
Themes
civilization
progress
national identity
Mood
reflective
optimistic
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- education reform
- foreign policy
- economic development
- technological adoption
Key Concepts
cultural diffusion
comparative development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a nation balance its identity with external influences?
- What risks arise from uncritical adoption?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all foreign cultures are superior and compatible.
![“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)
