Affair Quote by William Dean Howells
“It's a curious thing, this thing we call civilization...we think it is an affair of epochs, and nations. It's really an affair of individuals. One brother will be civilized and the other a barbarian...All civilization comes through literature now, especially in our country. A Greek got his civilization by talking and looking, and in some measure a Parisian may still do it. But we, who live remote from history and monuments, we must read or we must barbarise.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Civilization of the United States" by William Dean Howells, 1884
Civilization is shaped by individuals and literature, not just epochs or nations; without reading, societies risk barbarism.
In simple terms: Reading builds culture; individuals matter.
Key Takeaway
Read widely, nurture humanity.
Themes
civilization
literature
individual agency
culture
education
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
literary
cultural
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- public libraries
- community book clubs
- media literacy programs
Key Concepts
humanism
cultural development
literary influence
Questions to Reflect On
- What books have shaped your worldview?
- How can you promote reading in your community?
A Different Perspective
Literature alone cannot prevent barbarism; other factors matter.
