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In progressive societies the concentration[of wealth] may reach a point where the strength of number in the many poor rivals the strength of ability in the few rich then the unstable equilibrium generates a critical situation, which history has diversely met by legislation redistributing wealth or by revolution distributing poverty.

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
Situation
Critical
Unstable
Rich
Reach
Equilibrium
Ability
Revolution
Rivals
Poor
Number
Societies
Point
Poverty
Legislation
History
Strength
Progressive
Redistributing
May
Wealth
Concentration
Distributing
Many
Numbers
Mets
Generates

More quotes by Will Durant

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Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom.
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by and large the poor have the same impulses as the rich, with only less opportunity or skill to implement them
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The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds.
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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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Civilizaton is the interval between Ice Ages.
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Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
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As long as there is poverty there will be gods.
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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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Time sanctifies everything even the most arrant theft in the hands of the robber's grandchildren becomes sacred and inviolable property.
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There is nothing in socialism that a little age or a little money will not cure.
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Every form of government tends to perish by excess of its basic principle.
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Perhaps it is one secret of their power that, having studied the fluctuations of prices, the [bankers] know that history is inflationary.
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
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Man became free when he recognized that he was subject to law.
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Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos.
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Civilization is the order and freedom is promoting cultural activity.
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We Americans are the best informed people on earth as to the events of the last twenty-four hours we are the not the best informed as the events of the last sixty centuries.
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Nothing is new except arrangement.
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Rome remained great as long as she had enemies who forced her to unity, vision, and heroism. When she had overcome them all she flourished for a moment and then began to die.
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History is mostly guessing the rest is prejudice.
Will Durant