WIST Quotations

Arendt, Hannah -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:14:49 +0000

The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
(Attributed)

Widely attributed to Arendt, and in keeping with her other writings, but I cannot find a primary source or citation.

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 1, ch. 30 (1.30), “Of Cannibals [Des Cannibales]” (1578) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.31]

Dave — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:36:22 +0000

Every man calls barbarous anything he is not accustomed to.

[Chacun appelle barbarie, ce qui n’est pas de son usage.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 30 (1.30), “Of Cannibals [Des Cannibales]” (1578) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.31]
(Source)

Some translators use the 1588 sequence of chapters, not the 1595, and so identify this as ch. 31.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Men call that barbarisme which is not common to them.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

Every one gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

Everyone gives the denomination of barbarism to what is not the custom of his country.
[tr. Friswell (1868)]

Every one gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

Every one calls "barbarism" whatever he is not accustomed to.
[tr. Ives (1925), 1.31]

Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

Everyone calls barbarism what is not customary to him.
[ed. Rat (1958), 1.31]

Everyone calls what he is not accustomed to barbarity.
[tr. Atkinson/Sices (2012)]

Rogers, Will -- Column (1935-01-20), “Weekly Article”

Dave — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 15:19:36 +0000

Civilization has taught us to eat with a fork, but even now if nobody is around we use our fingers.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1935-01-20), “Weekly Article”
(Source)

Clark, Kenneth -- Civilisation, A Personal View, ch. 1 “The Skin of Our Teeth” (1969)

Dave — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:12:27 +0000

People sometimes tell me that they prefer barbarism to civilisation. I doubt if they have given it a long enough trial. Like the people of Alexandria, they are bored by civilisation; but all the evidence suggests that the boredom of barbarism is infinitely greater. Quite apart from the discomforts and privations, there was no escape from it.

Kenneth Clark (1903-1983) British art historian, museum director, broadcaster
Civilisation, A Personal View, ch. 1 “The Skin of Our Teeth” (1969)
(Source)

Benjamin, Walter -- “Theses on the Philosophy of History [On the Concept of History; Über den Begriff der Geschichte]”, Thesis 7 (1940) [tr. Zohn (1973)]

Dave — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 20:22:04 +0000

There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism.

[Es ist niemals ein Dokument der Kultur, ohne zugleich ein solches der Barbarei zu sein.]

Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) German Jewish philosopher, cultural critic, essayist.
“Theses on the Philosophy of History [On the Concept of History; Über den Begriff der Geschichte]”, Thesis 7 (1940) [tr. Zohn (1973)]
(Source)

(Source (German)). Alternate translation:

There has never been a document of culture, which is not simultaneously one of barbarism.
[tr. Redmond (2001)]

Buchan, John -- The Power-House, ch. 3 (1916)

Dave — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 20:47:12 +0000

You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass. A touch here, a push there, and you bring back the reign of Saturn.

John Buchan (1875-1940) Scottish novelist, poet, and politician; Governor-General of Canada (1935 -1940)
The Power-House, ch. 3 (1916)
(Source)

Hobbes, Thomas -- Leviathan, Part 1, ch. 13 (1651)

Dave — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:22:57 +0000

Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of Warre, where every man is Enemy to every man; the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and their own invention shall furnish them withall. In such condition, there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain; and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by Sea; no commodious Building; no Instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force; no Knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) English philosopher
Leviathan, Part 1, ch. 13 (1651)
(Source)