Havelock Ellis Civilization Quotations

All civilization has from time to time become a thin crust over a volcano of revolution.

The more rapidly a civilization progresses, the sooner it dies for another to rise in its place.

The greatest task before civilization at present is to make machines what they ought to be, the slaves, instead of the masters of men.

There is held to be no surer test of civilization than the increase per head of the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Yet alcohol and tobacco are recognizable poisons, so that their consumption has only to be carried far enough to destroy civilization altogether.

There is nothing more fragile than civilization.

We cannot be sure that we ought not to regard the most criminal country as that which in some aspects possesses the highest civilization.