Thread: "Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder"?

What does the quote/theory:
"Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder"
by Arnold J. Toynbee
mean??

Because the general population has a huge advantage: NUMBERS.

When we submit to government, especially a poorly-executed government, we submit to their every whim. And that is OUR fault for doing so without revolt. If we think our government is doing a terrible job, we can revolt/impeach/overthrow, etc. If we choose to allow the governemt to control our fate, our eventual demise is our own doing.

In the animal kingdom, "might is right." When it comes to life or death, if we don't use animal instincts (our might), we are the victim of our own weak will.

It's all very much more primal than you'd think, at first.


There are quotes from survivors of genocide campaigns that basically say "we should have never let them take our guns. had we our weapons, we'd stand a fighting chance."

People allow government to disarm them, and then you are subject to the governments every whim. BUT since you willingly gave up your defense, it is your doing....your suicide mission.

Suicide means killing themselves, right? Right. And murder means someone killing someone else,right? Right. So that means that Civilizations kill themselves, they crumble from the inside. I would think that a civilization would die by money problems, bad lleader, corruption, etc.

Suicide means killing themselves, right? Right. And murder means someone killing someone else,right? Right. So that means that Civilizations kill themselves, they crumble from the inside. I would think that a civilization would die by money problems, bad lleader, corruption, etc.