Will & Ariel Durant Quotes

“The fear of capitalism has compelled socialism to widen freedom, and the fear of socialism has compelled capitalism to increase equality. East is West and West is East, and soon the twain will meet.”

“In the end, nothing is lost. Every event, for good or evil, has effects forever.”

“The institutions, conventions, customs and laws that make up the complex structure of a society are the work of a hundred centuries and a billion minds; and one mind must not expect to comprehend them in one lifetime, much less in twenty years.”

“The only real revolution is in the enlightenment of the mind and the improvement of character, the only real emancipation is individual, and the only real revolutionists are philosophers and saints.”

“Nature smiles at the union of freedom and equality in our utopias. For freedom and equality are sworn and everlasting enemies, and when one prevails the other dies.”

“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.”

“Most history is guessing, and the rest is prejudice.”

“The present is the past rolled up for action, and the past is the present unrolled for understanding.”

“Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”

“The family is the nucleus of civilization.”

“The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds.”

“If we rated greatness by the influence of the great, we will say 'Muhammad is the greatest of the great in history.”