Single Idea 19629

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 1. History of Ideas]

Full Idea

A nation cannot create indefinitely. It is called upon to give expression and meaning to a sum of values which are exhausted with the soul which has begotten them.

Gist of Idea

A nation gives expression to its sum of values, and is then exhausted

Source

E.M. Cioran (A Short History of Decay [1949], 3)

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.115


A Reaction

This phenomenon is obvious. Is it the people who run out of steam, or the ideas and values to which their nation is giving expression? Is this a reason to break up nations every few centuries, and re-form them differently? Break up the UK!