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The difference between a stable society and an unstable one is that the restraints in an unstable one are external. In a stable society government ultimately becomes unnecessary; the restraints on people's actions are internal, they're self-disciplined...
— Carroll Quigley
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The difference between a stable society and an unstable one is that the restraints in an unstable one are external. In a stable society government ultimately becomes unnecessary; the restraints on people's actions are internal, they're self-disciplined..." in the context of "" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source:
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Carroll Quigley
Carroll Quigley (9 November 1910 – 3 January 1977) was a noted American historian, polymath, and theorist of the evolution of civilizations, best known for his books The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) and Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time (1966). He was noted for his teaching work as a professor at Georgetown University, for his academic publications, and for his research on secret societies.
About Carroll Quigley
Carroll Quigley (9 November 1910 – 3 January 1977) was a noted American historian, polymath, and theorist of the evolution of civilizations, best known for his books The Evolution of Civilizations (1961) and Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time (1966). He was noted for his teaching work as a professor at Georgetown University, for his academic publications, and for his research on secret societies.
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