Will Durant

William James Durant. American writer. Historian. Philosopher. Best known for his magnum opus The Story of Civilisation, in 11 volumes. 1885-1981.

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

and where no laws or despots suppress these artificial inequalities they reach at last a bursting point where the poor have nothing to lose by violence, and the chaos of revolution levels men again into a community of destitution. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Every growing civilization is a scene of multiplying inequalities; the natural differences of human endowment unite with differences of opportunity to produce artificial differences of wealth and power;

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

We must respect one another’s delusions.

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Let us say humbly but publicly that we resent corruption in politics, dishonesty in business, faithlessness in marriage, pornography in literature, coarseness in language, chaos in music, meaninglessness in art. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Most of our literature and social philosophy after 1850 was the voice of freedom against authority, of the child against the parent, of the pupil against the teacher. Through many years I shared in that individualistic revolt.

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

I do not regret it; it is the function of youth to defend liberty and innovation, of the old to defend order and tradition, and of middle age to find a middle way. But now that I too am old, I wonder whether the battle I fought was not too completely won.

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

A nation is born stoic and dies epicurean. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

I do not regret it; it is the function of youth to defend liberty and innovation, of the old to defend order and tradition, and of middle age to find a middle way. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

No one thought of letting the people rule; politics was—as always—a contest of minorities to determine which should rule the majority. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Nature smiles at the union of freedom and equality in our utopias. For freedom and equality are sworn and everlasting enemies, and when one prevails the other dies. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

A little knowledge of history stresses the variability of moral codes, & concludes that they are negligible because they differ in time & place, & sometimes contradict each other. A larger knowledge stresses the universality of moral codes, & concludes to their necessity. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

The propaganda of patriotism, capitalism, or Communism succeeds to the inculcation of a supernatural creed an moral code. Holy days give way to holidays. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Nature has never read the Declaration of Independence. It continues to make us unequal. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

It begins where chaos and insecurity end. For when fear is overcome, curiosity and constructiveness are free, and man passes by natural impulse towards the understanding and embellishment of life. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation. Four elements constitute it: economic provision, political organization, moral traditions, and the pursuit of knowledge and the arts.

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

A people that has lost the ability to govern itself, or to develop its natural resources, inevitably falls a prey to nations suffering from strength and greed. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

In its youth a people produce mythology and poetry; in its decadence, philosophy and logic. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

The individual dies, but life, tireless and undiscourageble, goes on, wondering, longing, planning, trying, mounting, longing. #Durant

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

Life is that which can hold a purpose for three thousand years and never yield. The individual fails, but life succeeds. The individual is foolish, but life holds in its blood and seed the wisdom of generations.

[Will Durant @DailyDurant]

If a man is fortunate he will, before he dies, gather up as much as he can of his civilized heritage and transmit it to his children. And to his final breath he will be grateful for this inexhaustible legacy, knowing that it is our nourishing mother and our lasting life. #Durant