Civilization degrades the many to exalt the few.

—Amos Bronson Alcott

About Amos Bronson Alcott

Portrait of Amos Bronson Alcott

Amos Bronson Alcott (; November 29, 1799 – March 4, 1888) was an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. As an educator, Alcott pioneered new ways of interacting with young students, focusing on a conversational style, and avoided traditional punishment. He hoped to perfect the human spirit and, to that...

More quotations from Amos Bronson Alcott

The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence.

—Amos Bronson Alcott

One must be a wise reader to quote wisely and well.

—Amos Bronson Alcott

Devotees of grammatical studies have not been distinguished for any very remarkable felicities of expression.

—Amos Bronson Alcott

Our ideals are our better selves.

—Amos Bronson Alcott

morality self better ideals

More quotations tagged with “civilization”

I think God's going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding.

—Steven Wright

God humor civilization speed

I'm optimistic about the future, but not about the future of this civilization. I'm optimistic about the civilization which will replace this one.

—James Baldwin

optimism future civilization

Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization.

—Lincoln Steffens

art flowers civilization

Making weapons is what we know how to do best, the supreme achievement of late-twentieth-century American civilization. To this blessed work we assign our finest intellect and the largest share of our treasure, and in the magnificence of an aircraft carrier or a cruise missile we find our moral and aesthetic equivalent of the Sistine ceiling and Chartres Cathedral.

—Lewis Lapham

weapons morality achievement America civilization missiles

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.

—Albert Einstein

war heroism morality music violence patriotism killing murder civilization

History

11 Jul 2015 Added