Civilization is an active deposit which is formed by the combustion of the present with the past. Neither in countries without a Present nor in those without a Past is it to be encountered. Proust in Venice, Matisse's birdcages overlooking the flower market at Nice, Gide on the seventeenth-century quais of Toulon, Lorca in Granada, Picasso by Saint-Germain-des-Pr?s: there lies civilization and for me it can exist only under those liberal regimes in which the Present is alive and therefore capable of assimilating the Past.

Summary

The quote suggests that civilization is like an evolving product of blending the past and present. It states that civilization cannot exist in societies that lack both a present and a past. The examples provided showcase various artists and writers in culturally significant locations, emphasizing that civilization exists in places where the present is vibrant enough to embrace and incorporate the knowledge and traditions of the past. This implies that liberal regimes, which often promote diversity and openness, are more likely to foster a vibrant present capable of assimilating the richness of history, thus nurturing civilization.

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