Quote by Jacques Turgot
We see societies establishing themselves, nations forming themselves, which in turn dominate over other nations or become subject to them. Empires rise and fall; laws, forms of government, one succeeding another; the arts, the sciences, are discovered and are cultivated; sometimes retarded and sometimes accelerated in their progress, they pass from one region to another. Self-interest, ambition, vainglory, perpetually change the scene of the world, inundate the earth with blood. Yet in the midst of their ravages manners are gradually softened, the human mind takes enlightenment, separate nations draw nearer to each other, commerce and policy connect at last all parts of the globe, and the total mass of the human race, by the alternations of calm and agitation, of good conditions and of bad, marches always, although slowly, towards still higher perfection...
Summary
This quote highlights the ever-changing nature of societies and nations throughout history. It acknowledges the rise and fall of empires, the progression of laws and forms of government, and the advancements in arts and sciences. It also acknowledges the negative aspects of human ambition and conflict, resulting in bloodshed. However, amidst this turmoil, the quote emphasizes the gradual softening of manners, enlightenment of the human mind, and increasing interconnectedness through commerce and diplomacy. It suggests that despite the ebb and flow of good and bad conditions, humankind continually progresses towards a higher state of perfection, albeit at a slow pace.
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