America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Clemenceau argues that America skipped the phase of true civilization, moving directly from primitive states to decline.
- In plain terms
- America went from primitive to decay without ever becoming truly civilized.
- What can you take from it?
- True progress requires building civilization before reaching modernity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What defines civilization?
- How do nations progress?
Another view
This view overlooks America's specific cultural and institutional developments.
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