--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because civilization isn't a thing that…" description: "\"Because civilization isn't a thing that you build and then there it is, you have it forever. It needs to be built constantly, recreated daily. It vanis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/steven-galloway-22880_civilization_because-civilization-isn-t-a-thing-that_15624.jpg" --- # Because civilization isn't a thing that you build and then… ![“Because civilization isn't a thing that you build and then there it is, you have it forever. It needs to be built constantly, recreated daily. It vanishes far more quickly than he ever would have thought possible. And if he wishes to live, he must do what he can to prevent the world he wants to…” quote by Steven Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/steven-galloway-22880_civilization_because-civilization-isn-t-a-thing-that_15624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/steven-galloway-22880_civilization_because-civilization-isn-t-a-thing-that_15624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/steven-galloway-22880_civilization_because-civilization-isn-t-a-thing-that_15624.jpg) > “Because civilization isn't a thing that you build and then there it is, you have it forever. It needs to be built constantly, recreated daily. It vanishes far more quickly than he ever would have thought possible. And if he wishes to live, he must do what he can to prevent the world he wants to live in from fading away. As long as there's war, life is a preventative measure.” [Steven Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-galloway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilization requires ongoing effort; it is not a static achievement but a continuous process that can decay without active maintenance. **In simple terms:** Society must be actively sustained. Key Takeaway Culture erodes without vigilance. Themes impermanence collective responsibility war and peace cultural continuity human agency Mood reflective urgent Type philosophical sociopolitical When to use this quote - building community institutions - educating youth - preserving cultural heritage - responding to conflict Key Concepts social cohesion historical memory civic duty Practical Applications - policy design for cultural preservation - community engagement initiatives Questions to Reflect On - What daily actions can individuals take to sustain their society? - How does conflict accelerate cultural loss? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Fading away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fading-away/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Civilisation isn't a thing that you build and then there it is, you have it forever. 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Your head has dissolved into thin air and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-carrington/you-may-not-believe-in-magic-but-something-very-strange-is-happening/) [Leonora Carrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-carrington/) > [I hate fading away from someone that was once a big part of my life. Someone that was important to me.~~~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blah/i-hate-fading-away-from-someone-that-was-once-a-big-part-of-my-life/) [Blah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blah/) > [~Sometimes I feel like fading away < 3 ~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-eyes/sometimes-i-feel-like-fading-away-3/) Angel\_eyes ## More by Steven Galloway > [A weapon does not decide whether or not to kill. A weapon is a manifestation of a decision that has already been made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-galloway/a-weapon-does-not-decide-whether-or-not-to-kill-a-weapon-is-a/) [Steven Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-galloway/) > [“... life is a series of tiny, unavoidable decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-galloway/life-is-a-series-of-tiny-unavoidable-decisions/) [Steven Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-galloway/) > [She felt an enveloping happiness to be alive, a joy made stronger by the certainty that someday it would all come to an end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-galloway/she-felt-an-enveloping-happiness-to-be-alive-a-joy-made-stronger-by/) [Steven Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-galloway/) > [Most argument, and in fact most conflict, has nothing to do with the present. It's always about the past or the future. 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He thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-galloway/he-s-been-asleep-since-the-war-began-he-knows-this-now-in-defending/) [Steven Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-galloway/) [Explore all 26 Steven Galloway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-galloway/) ## 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. 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