Arnold J. Toynbee Quotes

Powerful Arnold J. Toynbee for Daily Growth

About Arnold J. Toynbee

Arnold Joseph Toynbee was a renowned British historian, philosopher, and scholar of international relations, born on April 14, 1889, in London, England. He is best known for his extensive work "A Study of History," a ten-volume analysis of the rise and fall of civilizations. Toynbee was educated at Bedales School and then New College, Oxford, where he studied history and philosophy. His academic career took him to various institutions, including London School of Economics, the University of Manchester, and the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. In 1932, he was appointed to a newly created professorship at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton University, where he spent the rest of his professional life. Toynbee's work was deeply influenced by the historical and philosophical traditions of both East and West. He was particularly inspired by Plato, Confucius, and Ibn Khaldun, the 14th-century Arab historian. Toynbee's perspective on history was unique, as he sought to understand not just political or military events, but also the underlying cultural, religious, and intellectual factors that shaped civilizations. His magnum opus, "A Study of History," was published between 1934 and 1961. In this work, Toynbee analyzed the rise and fall of 21 civilizations throughout history, identifying common patterns and causes. He proposed that a civilization faces a challenge in its environment which it must solve, and if it fails to do so effectively, it faces disintegration or extinction. Toynbee's work continues to influence scholars and historians, offering a comprehensive and insightful perspective on the ebb and flow of human history. He passed away on October 22, 1975, leaving behind an enduring legacy in the field of historical studies.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies."

This quote by Arnold J. Toynbee suggests that throughout history, human societies often repeat similar patterns and experiences rather than creating entirely new ones. He's comparing history to an art gallery where the majority of the works on display are not original creations but rather copies or variations of earlier pieces. In essence, it implies that we as humans tend to revisit old challenges, solutions, and mistakes throughout time, offering valuable lessons about humanity's shared past and potential future.

"The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones."

This quote suggests that it's often harder to break free from established beliefs, patterns, or ways of thinking than it is to generate fresh ideas. Innovation requires overcoming the inertia of the past, challenging the status quo, and embracing change. It implies that we must be open-minded to new concepts and willing to let go of outdated notions in order to progress.

"Civilizations die from suicide, not from enemies from outside."

This quote emphasizes that the decline or fall of civilizations is often self-inflicted rather than caused by external forces. In other words, civilizations have a tendency to destroy themselves through internal decay, poor decision making, loss of values, or social breakdown rather than through military conquest or external invasions. It encourages societies to be mindful of their internal strength, unity, and resilience in order to avoid self-destruction.

"I am a historian. I have never made any secret of the fact that my business is to study the past."

This quote by Arnold J. Toynbee highlights his role as a historian, emphasizing that he spends time examining and understanding the past. Essentially, he sees himself as an investigator of history whose primary focus is analyzing past events to gain insights, knowledge, or lessons for the present or future.

"Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary."

This quote highlights two fundamental aspects of human nature within a democratic system. On one hand, humans have the ability for justice – they can make decisions that are fair and equitable. On the other hand, humans also have an inherent inclination towards injustice – they may act selfishly or unfairly without proper checks and balances. In essence, democracy is necessary because it provides mechanisms to curb human tendencies towards injustice while allowing for the expression of our capacity for justice.

Of the twenty-two civilizations that have appeared in history, nineteen of them collapsed when they reached the moral state the United States is in now.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

United, United States, Collapsed

The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Work, Play, Line, Between

As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Nature, Freedom, Shoulders, Shoulder

The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenceless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenceless against ourselves.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Society, Race, Prospects, Tigers

The immense cities lie basking on the beaches of the continent like whales that have taken to the land.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Beaches, Cities, Continent, Whales

I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Die, Product, Civilization, Wills

America is a large friendly dog in a small room. Every time it wags its tail it knocks over a chair.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Small, Over, Large, Every Time

I can not think of any circumstances in which advertising would not be an evil.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Think, Circumstances, Which, Any Circumstances

A city that outdistances man's walking powers is a trap for man.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Man, Walking, City, Powers

The equation of religion with belief is rather recent.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Belief, Rather, Equation, Recent

It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Some, Paradoxical, Likely, Aiming

Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal, with takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Practice, Ideal, Aroused, Carrying

History is a vision of God's creation on the move.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

History, Vision, Move, Creation

The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Achievements, Outstanding, Crying

To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Intelligence, Product, Last, Leisure

History not used is nothing, for all intellectual life is action, like practical life, and if you don't use the stuff well, it might as well be dead.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Like, Practical, Use, Intellectual

A life which does not go into action is a failure.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Failure, Which, Does, Action

Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Suicide, Die, Civilizations

Civilization is a movement and not a condition, a voyage and not a harbor.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

History, Condition, Harbor

Sooner or later, man has always had to decide whether he worships his own power or the power of God.

- Arnold J. Toynbee

Power, Always, Sooner, Decide

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