Civility Quote by Tony Judt
“The Second World War had a precipitating effect in that it discredited the empires, as well as bankrupting them. Not only could you no longer, if you were a colonial subject of France in Africa, look to France as a model of power and influence and civility after what had happened in the war. Nor could the French any longer afford to run their empire. And nor could the British, although they were not discredited in the way that the French were.”
About This Quote
World War II undermined the legitimacy and financial viability of European colonial empires, eroding their moral authority and capacity to maintain control.
In simple terms: War shattered imperial credibility and resources.
Key Takeaway
Imperial decline follows military defeat.
Themes
colonialism
imperial decline
war consequences
national legitimacy
economic strain
Mood
reflective
critical
historical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- colonial subjects reassessing loyalty
- metropolitan elites confronting fiscal crisis
- nationalist movements gaining momentum
- foreign powers exploiting weakened empires
Key Concepts
colonial subjects
French empire
British empire
post‑war geopolitics
Practical Applications
- historical analysis of decolonization
- policy studies on post‑war reconstruction
Questions to Reflect On
- How did the war’s moral shock accelerate anti‑colonial sentiment?
- What economic factors forced European powers to relinquish overseas territories?
![“Lieux de memoire . . . 'exist because there are no longer any milieux de memoire , settings in which memory is a real part of everyday experience.' And what are lieux de memoire ? [They] are . . . vestiges . . . the rituals of a ritual-less society.” quote by Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e56/tony-judt-1730_memory_lieux-de-memoire-exist-because-there-are_21586.jpg)
![“[T]he politically correct are above the rules of ordinary civility, once they have identified you as an unbeliever in their religion.” quote by Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/abd/orson-scott-card-134_civility_t-he-politically-correct-are-above-the-r_75276.jpg)