The goal of every culture is to decay through overcivilization; the factors of decadence—luxury, skepticism, weariness, and superstition—are constant. The civilization of one epoch becomes the manure of the next.

About Cyril Connolly

Cyril Vernon Connolly (10 September 1903 – 26 November 1974) was an English literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine Horizon (1940–49) and wrote Enemies of Promise (1938), which combined literary criticism with an autobiographical exploration of why he failed to become the successful...

More quotations from Cyril Connolly

It is only in the country that we can get to know a person or a book.

—Cyril Connolly

This is pretty much what journals are all about, at least to me. I knew as I wrote them that even though they provided an excellent place for brain (and heart, and psyche) dump, they were mainly a map of me.

—Cyril Connolly

writing

Everything is a dangerous drug except reality, which is unendurable.

—Cyril Connolly

reality

Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice; journalism what will be read once.

—Cyril Connolly

journalism

All charming people have something to conceal, usually their total dependence on the appreciation of others.

—Cyril Connolly

History

17 Dec 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

The goal of every culture is to decay through overcivilization; the factors of decadence — luxury, skepticism, weariness, and superstition — are constant. The civilization of one epoch becomes the manure of the next.