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Western civilization presents one of the most difficult tasks for historical analysis, because it is not yet finished, because we are a part of it and lack perspective, and because it presents considerable variation from our pattern of historical change.

— Carroll Quigley The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) (1979)

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More quotes by Carroll Quigley

No scientist ever believes that he has the final answer or the ultimate truth on anything.

The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) (1979)

Every civilization must be organized in such a way that it has invention, capital accumulation, and investment.

The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) (1979)

Even today few scientists and perhaps even fewer nonscientists realize that science is a method and nothing else.

The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) (1979)

Closely related to the erroneous idea that science is a body of knowledge is the equally erroneous idea that scientific theories are true.

The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) (1979)

Each individual in a society is a nexus where innumerable relationships of this character intersect.

The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) (1979)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Carroll Quigley (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.