Wordy Wednesday: Barbarism at Last
We’ve been reading through The Christian Almanac at the dinner table this year and enjoying it very much. I could have included all sorts of quotes and bits, but this one, from Lord Byron, seemed particularly poignant this week. Perhaps I should read some more poetry …
There is the moral of all human tales;
‘Tis but the same rehearsal of the past,
First Freedom, and then Glory– when that fails,
Wealth, vice, corruption– barbarism at last.
And History, with all her volumes vast,
Hath but one page
-IV.cviii
Linked to Wednesday with Words at Ordo-Amoris. Join us with a quote from your current read!
Great quote.
How are you liking the Christian Almanac? It looks intriguing, but seems like it might be over the heads of my kids.
My husband, oldest daughter, and self like it a lot. The other two aren't fans. We usually read the quote, the main essay, and then judiciously read the dates.
The authors' biases come out from time to time (the part of Dr. King's speech quoted yesterday was not the one I'd choose, "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made staright, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." While that is a great quote, it doesn't directly address the March on Washington, its purposes or its legacy.)
Overall, we've learned a lot about history, the church, and how the two intersect. We recommend it.
That is very beautiful….and sad. How close we are.
We were debating whether we're under wealth, vice, or corruption …
What's so fascinating about this concept is that certain civilizations (Romans during the late Republic, the modern U.S., etc.) are so prone to bemoaning the corruption of their civilization. Yet they can't seem to change it.
I wonder if talking about your civilization's moral decline is a Western tradition, or a universal and human thing?