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About this quote

What does it mean?
A truly civilized nation is defined by creativity and creation, not just order or rules. Civilization thrives on innovation and expression.
In plain terms
A nation that creates and builds is truly civilized, not just orderly.
What can you take from it?
Civilization is defined by creativity, not just order.

Where it applies

  • national policy
  • education
  • cultural planning

Putting it to work

  • supporting innovation
  • education policy
  • arts funding

Questions to consider

  • What makes a nation civilized?
  • Is creativity enough?

Another view

Order and stability are also needed for societies.

More from Albert Camus

  1. The Church has been so harsh with heretics only because she deemed that there is no worse enemy than a child who has gone astray. But the record of Gnostic eff…

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  2. The current motto for all of us can only be this: without giving up anything on the plane of justice, yield nothing on the plane of freedom.

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  3. The aim of art, the aim of a life can only be to increase the sum of freedom and responsibility to be found in every man and in the world.

    Permalink to quote #192

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