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Every form of government tends to perish by excess of its basic principle.

Will Durant

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Will Durant
Age: 96 †
Born: 1885
Born: November 5
Died: 1981
Died: November 7
Historian
Philosopher
Writer
North Adams
Massachusetts
William James Will Durant
William James Durant
Principles
Form
Government
Every
Perish
Tends
Excess
Principle
Basic

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Love one another. My final lesson of history is the same as that of Jesus. You may think that's a lot of lollipop but just try it. Love is the most practical thing in the world. If you take an attitude of love toward everybody you meet, you'll eventually get along.
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There is hardly an absurdity of the past that cannot be found flourishing somewhere in the present.
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There is no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion.
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Liberty is a luxury of security the free individual is a product and a mark of civilization.
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Truth will not make us rich, but it will make us free.
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In its youth a people produce mythology and poetry in its decadence, philosophy and logic.
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The concentration of wealth is a natural result of this concentration of ability, and regularly recurs in history. The rate of concentration varies (other factors being equal) with the economic freedom permitted by morals and laws.
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The laws that Charondas gave to Catana,... A man might divorce his wife, or a wife her husband, said Charondas, but then he or she must not marry anyone younger than the divorced mate.
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The most interesting thing in the world is another human being who wonders, suffers and raises the questions that have bothered him to the last day of his life, knowing he will never get the answers.
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Those who have suffered much become very bitter or very gentle.
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History reports that the men who can manage men manage the men who can manage only things, and the men who can manage money manage all.
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The world wisely prefers happiness to wisdom.
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History is always repeating itself, but each time the price goes up.
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Cultural creation... begins where chaos and insecurity end.
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Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom.
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History seldom destroys that which does not deserve to die and the burning of the tares makes for the next sowing a richer soil.
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Even when repressed, inequality grows only the man who is below the average in economic ability desires equality those who are conscious of superior ability desire freedom, and in the end superior ability has its way.
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There is no real philosophy until the mind turns around and examines itself.
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History is mostly guessing the rest is prejudice.
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Men decided that it was better to pay taxes than to fight among themselves better to pay tribute to one magnificent robber than to bribe them all.
Will Durant