(from the) KEYNOTE ADDRESS OF DR. CONSTANTINE W. CURRIS
PRESIDENT, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
to the
Benchmark 3 Conference on Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies
Arizona State University
March 17, 2006
[In connection with the Universities obligation to teach social responsibility.]
...
I recall the great historian Edward Gibbon’s observations on the demise of Athenian Democracy:
...
I recall the great historian Edward Gibbon’s observations on the demise of Athenian Democracy:
“In the end,” Gibbon wrote, “the Athenians more than
they wanted freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and
they lost it all – security, comfort, freedom.”
“When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to
society, but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was
freedom from responsibility –
then Athens ceased to be free.”
...
Help – many years ago I read a purported dialog between two contemporary public figures in democratic Athens. The first man asks what can be done to stop the decline of Athens. To which the second replies “stop doing what you are doing now”.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone identify the source of the statement?
I don't know of one.
ReplyDelete