It is almost a general rule that nations do not decline gradually. Instead they fall abruptly from their greatest heights. Robert Payne More Quotes by Robert Payne More Quotes From Robert Payne Fragmentation occurs when a civilization is in decline. Robert Payne fragmentation decline civilization Naked power has its limitations, since power is a generator of corruption and corruption in its turn tends to dilute the effectiveness of power. Robert Payne effectiveness naked corruption Long before the empire had reached its greatest extent, the Romans were bored by it. Robert Payne empires bored long The small Hitlers are around us every day. Robert Payne relationship Uncorrupted man, with God's blessing, advances across the fields of the universe as though he were walking down a country lane. Robert Payne blessing men country A culture is not only the language and the arts of a people. It is all their history, all their hopes for the future. Robert Payne culture people art Nietzsche's accomplishment is that he permits us to see corruption from the inside. Robert Payne permit accomplishment corruption The second corruption of the state is oligarchy (oligos = few), in which the military elite is narrowed down to a few ruling families of immense wealth and prestige, who now openly flaunt their wealth and possessions. Robert Payne oligarchy wealth military Historically the first philosopher to enquire deeply into the nature of corruption in society was Ibn Khaldun (1322-1406), whose wandering life was largely spent in the northern littoral of Africa at a time when kingdoms and sultanates were crumbling. Robert Payne crumbling kingdoms firsts A totalitarian dictatorship cannot explain; it can only suppress. Robert Payne dictatorship Throughout the history of Christianity, there had been a core of belief that man was not doomed to be everlastingly corrupt. Robert Payne belief christianity men Corrupt men are always liars. Lies are their instruments, their pleasure, their solace. In time they come to believe their lies, or rather to half-believe them. Robert Payne liars believe lying All is forgiven to kings and popes. History grants them immunity, even a full pardon, even when they admit their crimes and glory in them. Robert Payne pope glory kings The corrupt, when found out, become especially good moralists. Robert Payne moralist good-moral found The books of men have their day and grow obsolete. God's word is like Himself, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. Robert Payne yesterday men book Corruption appears to be a universal phenomenon that lays its own imperious claims on the world, and therefore it is the duty of all nations to prepare themselves against its onslaught by taking proper precautions. Robert Payne precaution corruption world Sometimes societies die and putrefy long before they are pronounced dead, and sometimes men die of corruption long before they have taken to their deathbeds. Robert Payne taken men long It is precisely when we help one another that we gain our victories over corruption, but the victory is assured only when we help one another with all our strength. Robert Payne victory gains helping Conquest, tyranny, treachery, and the clash of cultures bring about corrupt societies, and so does old age. Sometimes the five faces of corruption are visible at the same time. Robert Payne age faces doe At the heart of the mystery of corruption lies the desire of one man to impose his will on others to the largest possible extent. Robert Payne heart men lying
