Decline of Nations Quotes

When great powers fade, as they inevitably must, it's normally for one of two reasons. Some powers exhaust themselves through overreach abroad, underinvestment at home, or a mixture of the two. This was the case for the Soviet Union. Other powers lose their privileged position with the emergence of new, stronger powers.

History is not reassuring on the subject of the longevity of seemingly lasting great nations, is it?

Permanent superiority has never been realized by any nation in history. After the rise comes the fall.

Nations have passed away and left no traces, And history gives the naked cause of it - One single simple reason in all cases; They fell because their peoples were not fit.

The demise of the American empire will be no more regretted than the demise of the Soviet empire.

Must one point out that from ancient times a decline in courage has been considered the first symptom of the end?

When a nation forgets her skill in war, when her religion becomes a mockery, when the whole nation becomes a nation of money-grabbers, then the wild tribes, the barbarians drive in... Who will our invaders be? From whence will they come?

The American Republic was bound - is still bound - to follow in the centuries to come the same course to destruction as did Rome.

Spain today, rather than a nation, is a cloud of dust remaining after a great people have galloped down the highway of history.