Civilization balances always on a keen and precarious point, a showman spinning a fine Spode dinner plate on a long dowel slender as a stem of hay. A puff of breath, a moment's lost attention, and it's all gone, crashed to ruination, shards in the dirt. Then mankind retreats to the caves, leaving little behind but obelisks weathering to nubs like broken teeth, dissolving to beach sand.
The quote highlights the fragility of civilization, likening it to a delicate plate balanced on a slender dowel. It suggests that civilization's stability is precarious, easily disrupted by a moment of inattention or external forces. When this balance is lost, the consequences can be catastrophic, leading to the downfall of society.
Furthermore, the imagery of mankind retreating to caves signifies a regression into primitive existence following the collapse of civilization. The remnants of past achievements, represented by weathered obelisks, serve as a stark reminder of the impermanence of human endeavors, ultimately reduced to mere fragments over time.
