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Barbarism Quotes

Sober reflections on how civilization can slide backward.

These barbarism quotes take a critical, cautionary view of violence and extremism, arguing that even organized war reduces to base cruelty at its core. A related warning about excess appears in Gene Wolfe quotes.

War is at its best barbarism.

Quotes by William Tecumseh Sherman

From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.

Quotes by Denis Diderot

The ultimate tendency of civilization is towards barbarism.

Quotes by David Hare

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these barbarism quotes glorify violence?
No; each one is critical, using the word as a warning about what war, fanaticism, or social decline can lead to.
What is the quote about war and barbarism saying?
It argues that even at its most organized or justified, war ultimately amounts to raw cruelty rather than something noble.
How does the fanaticism quote connect extremism to barbarism?
It suggests the distance between fervent belief and outright cruelty is dangerously small, warning against how quickly one can lead to the other.
Is the idea that civilization tends toward barbarism a common one?
It reflects a recurring, skeptical view in political and philosophical writing that progress isn't guaranteed and can reverse.
Are these quotes meant as historical commentary or general warning?
They read as general warnings about human behavior rather than commentary on one specific event, and the Alfonso Soriano quotes page offers a lighter contrast in tone.

Another line warns how quickly fanatical belief can collapse into outright cruelty, while a third suggests civilization itself risks regressing over time. These are cautionary, not celebratory, observations, echoed in Adi Godrej quotes and Calvin Trillin quotes.