'At this point I reveal myself in my true colours, as a stick in the mud. I hold a number of beliefs that have been repudiated by the liveliest intellects of our time. I believe that order is better than chaos, creation better than destruction, I prefer gentleness to violence, forgiveness to vendetta. On the whole I think that knowledge is preferable to ignorance and I am sure that human sympathy is more valuable than ideology. I believe that in spite of the recent triumphs of science, men havent changed much in the last 2000 years and in consequence we must still try and learn from history. History is ourselves. I also hold 1 or 2 beliefs that are more difficult to put shortly. For example I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which we avoid hurting other peoples feelings by satisfying our own egos and I think we should remember that we are part of a great whole which for convenience we call nature. All living things are borthers and sisters Above all I believe in the God given genius of certain individuals, and I value a society that makes their existence possible'
Kenneth Clark-Civilisation-1969
