Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight.
William SafireThe larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.
Beyond the Post-Modern Mind: The Place of Meaning in a Global CivilizationNo civilization other than that which is Christian, is worth seeking or possessing.
Otto von BismarckA great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.
Ariel Durant