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“In the second century B.C., the Greek writer and historian Polybius offered his own meditation, based on a profound study of what we now call “ancient history,” though to him it was “modern history.” After discussing the necessity of equilibrium within a state in his History of Rome, and the importance of checks and balances, Polybius launched into a discussion of decadence. He said there were two “sources of decay existing from natural causes” in the state. One of these causes was external, while the other was internal. The external cause of decay admitted of “no certain fixed definition,” he admitted, “but the internal follows a definite order.” — J.R.Nyquist
In the second century B.C., the Greek writer and historian Polybius offered his own meditation, based on a profound study of what we now call “ancient history,” though to him it was “modern history.” After discussing the necessity of equilibrium within a state in his History of Rome, and the importance of checks and balances, Polybius launched into a discussion of decadence. He said there were two “sources of decay existing from natural causes” in the state. One of these causes was external, while the other was internal. The external cause of decay admitted of “no certain fixed definition,” he admitted, “but the internal follows a definite order.