“Civilisation as a term suggests human agency. […] It is the way in which people have articulated how and why they wanted to live in communities. It's about how we imagine the perfect community. […] I think the most ambitious thing humans have ever done is deciding to live together with people whom they didn't know in cities. It's really difficult to build a community, to learn to celebrate difference and to live harmoniously together, and we fail all the time.”

My bright idea: Civilisation is still worth striving for

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Civilisation as a term suggests human agency. […] It is the way in which people have articulated how and why they wante…" by Richard Miles (historian)?
Richard Miles (historian) photo
Richard Miles (historian) 7
British historian and archaeologist 1969

Related quotes

Richard Miles (historian) photo

“Civilisation as a term suggests human agency. Things don't come together organically.”

Richard Miles (historian) (1969) British historian and archaeologist

My bright idea: Civilisation is still worth striving for

“The history of Islam is the best testament to how different communities can live together in peace and harmony. Muslims must exemplify the true image of Islam in their interaction with other communities.”

Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais (1962) Imam in Mecca

[Sacranie, Iqbal, Iqbal Sacranie, Abdul Bari, Muhammad, Muhammad Abdul Bari, Kantharia, Mehboob, Siddiqui, Ghayasuddin, John Ware, A Question of Leadership, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/4171950.stm, Panorama, BBC, London, England, August 21, 2005, 2007-03-30].

Freeman Dyson photo
Jean Chrétien photo

“Canadian federalism is more than a form of government. It's also a system of values that allows different people in diverse communities to live and work together in harmony for the good of all.”

Jean Chrétien (1934) 20th Prime Minister of Canada

Source: My Years As Prime Minister (2007), Chapter Five, The Phony War, p. 115

“We try to educate the people as a Christian community. We have meetings and prayer time together. In this way, we do not judge things in terms of majority or minority in relationship to the other Christian denominations, because we work together so that all Christians may be one.”

Camillus Archibong Etokudoh (1949) Nigerian catholic priest

“A growing Church that participates in the nation's progress”: Nigerian Bishops comment (9 March 2009) Fides News Agecny http://www.fides.org/en/news/23120-AFRICA_NIGERIA_A_growing_Church_that_participates_in_the_nation_s_progress_Nigerian_Bishops_comment

Kofi Annan photo

“Throughout history, human life has been enriched by diversity, and different communities have learnt from each other. But, if our different communities are to live together in peace we must stress also what unites us: our common humanity, and our shared belief that human dignity and rights should be protected by law.”

Kofi Annan (1938–2018) 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations

Truman Library address (2006)
Context: Both security and development ultimately depend on respect for human rights and the rule of law.
— Although increasingly interdependent, our world continues to be divided — not only by economic differences, but also by religion and culture. That is not in itself a problem. Throughout history, human life has been enriched by diversity, and different communities have learnt from each other. But, if our different communities are to live together in peace we must stress also what unites us: our common humanity, and our shared belief that human dignity and rights should be protected by law.

Ken Livingstone photo
J.B. Priestley photo
Tom Clancy photo
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor photo

Related topics