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Arnold J. Toynbee Quotes

Historian

Arnold J. Toynbee was a British historian known for his study of historical cycles. His magnum opus, 'A Study of History', is a multi-volume work that explores the rise and fall of human civilizations.

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All Humans Men Civilization World Believe Freedom Way Children Has Beens Human Beings Ifs Inspirational Moral Race Self Social Whole Achievement Action Animal

Famous Arnold J. Toynbee Quotes

“On this showing, the nature of the breakdowns of civilizations can be summed up in three points: a failure of creative power in the minority, an answering withdrawal of mimesis on the part of the majority, and a consequent loss of social unity in the society as a whole.”

Whole Three Social Loss Creative Civilization Majority Unity Minorities Breakdown Withdrawal Creative Power Mimesis

Author:Arnold J. Toynbee

“Of the twenty-two civilizations that have appeared in history, nineteen of them collapsed when they reached the moral state the United States is in now.”

Two States United Moral United States Civilization Twenties Umpires Nineteen Twenty Two

Author:Arnold J. Toynbee

“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.”

Dies Civilization Murder Suicide

Author:Arnold J. Toynbee

“Civilization is a movement and not a condition, a voyage and not a harbor.”

Art Philosophy Wisdom Change History Journey Conditions Movement Civilization Harbors Voyages

Author:Arnold J. Toynbee

“I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.”

Believe Dies Products Civilization Organisms

Author:Arnold J. Toynbee

“Of the twenty or so civilizations known to modern Western historians, all except our own appear to be dead or moribund, and, when we diagnose each case... we invariably find that the cause of death has been either War or Class or some combination of the two.”

Has Beens Two War Causes Known Class Cases Modern Civilization Twenties Western Combination Historian

Book:Civilization on Trial

Source: Civilization on Trial

“Civilizations, I believe, come to birth and proceed to grow by successfully responding to successive challenges. They break down and go to pieces if and when a challenge confronts them that they fail to meet.”

Ifs Believe Belief I Believe Grows Challenges Break Pieces Failing Birth Civilization Down And Breaking Down Responding Ifs And

Book:Civilization on Trial

Source: Civilization on Trial

About the Author

Born: April 14, 1889
Died: October 22, 1975
Known for: Historian
Quotes: 54

Books & Sources

Civilization on TrialRelated source material

A Study of History: Abridgement ofRelated source material

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