Every society rests in the last resort on the recognition of common principles and common ideals, and if it makes no moral or spiritual appeal to the loyalty of its members, it must inevitably fall to pieces.
Interpretation
Society depends on shared values and ideals for cohesion; without them, it will fail.
This quote by Christopher Dawson emphasizes the importance of shared moral and spiritual principles within a society. It argues that for a society to remain intact and functional, its members must be united by common beliefs and ideals; when these connections weaken, the society risks disintegration and chaos.
In practice
During a community meeting discussing local challenges, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of shared values.
We have entered a new phase of culture - we may call it the Age of the Cinema - in which the most amazing perfection of scientific technique is being devoted to purely ephemeral objects, without any consideration of their ultimate justification. It seems as though a new society was arising which will acknowledge no hierarchy of values, no intellectual authority, and no social or religious tradition, but which will live for the moment in a chaos of pure sensation.
It is true that Christianity is not bound up with any particular race or culture. It is neither of the East or of the West, but has a universal mission to the human race as a whole
Liberty cannot be guaranteed by law. Nor by any thing else except the resolution of free citizens to defend their liberties.
.. the voice of nature and experience seems plainly to oppose the selfish theory.
What the expression is intended to mean, I think, is that there is a better and a worse element in the character of each individual, and that when the naturally better element controls the worse then the man is said to be "master of himself", as a term of praise. But when - as a result of bad upbringing or bad company one s better element is overpowered by the numerical superiority of one s worse impulses, then one is criticized for not being master of oneself and for lack of self control.
Post-modernism has cut off the present from all futures. The daily media add to this by cutting off the past. Which means that critical opinion is often orphaned in the present.
Sometimes you want to whisper in God's ear, "God, we know you are in charge, but why don't you make it slightly more obvious?"
I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
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