A great civilization is not conquered from without
until it has destroyed itself within
- Will Durant
appeared as the opening graphic of Mel Gibson's 2006 film Apocalypto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Durant#Philosophical_writings
Hence a certain tension between religion and society
marks the higher stages of every civilization.
Religion begins by offering magical aid to harassed and bewildered men
; it culminates by giving to a people that unity of morals and belief
which seems so favorable to statesmanship and art
; it ends by fighting suicidally in the lost cause of the past
- Will Durant
