"To a high degree we are, through art and science, cultured. We are civilized — perhaps too much for our own good — in all sorts of social grace and decorum. But to consider ourselves as having reached morality — for that, much is lacking. The ideal of morality belongs to culture; its use for some simulacrum of morality in the love of honor and outward decorum constitutes mere civilization. So long as states waste their forces in vain and violent self-expansion, and thereby constantly thwart the slow efforts to improve the minds of their citizens by even withdrawing all support from them, nothing in the way of a moral order is to be expected. For such an end, a long internal working of each political body toward the education of its citizens is required. Everything good that is not based on a morally good disposition, however, is nothing but pretense and glittering misery. In such a condition the human species will no doubt remain until, in the way I have described, it works its way out of the chaotic conditions of its international relations."
React to this quote
More by Immanuel Kant
See allResonant Thoughts
"All classes, therefore, must be brought under women’s influence; for all require to be reminded constantly of the great truth that Reason and Activity are subordinate to Feeling. Of their influence up…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"A clash of civilizations driven by the failure of Islamic/Arab culture . I think he is also right to say th…"
— Eric S. Raymond"In France constitutions come and go, but administrative institutions remain."
— John Rohr"This overweening addiction to the courtroom as the place to debate social policy is bad for the country and…"
— Neil Gorsuch"Some French socialist said that private property was theft … I say that private property is a nuisance."
— Paul Erdős"The antagonist to the Republican Party has been the Democrats, the party of collective subjugation and indi…"
— Allen West (politician)"In the network economy, success is self-reinforcing; it obeys the law of increasing returns. The great inno…"
— Kevin Kelly (editor)
Related Thinkers
Related Topics
Deep Dives
- Thomas Carlyle on society
- Aristotle on society
- Immanuel Kant on society
- Michel de Montaigne on society
- Epictetus on society
- Friedrich Nietzsche on life
- Friedrich Nietzsche on truth
- Friedrich Nietzsche on philosophy
- Friedrich Nietzsche on time
- Friedrich Nietzsche on knowledge
- knowledge & Beauty
- knowledge & Change