I have the not altogether unsatisfying impression that civilisation is collapsing around me. Is it my age, I wonder, or the age we live in? I am not sure. Civilisations do collapse, after all, but on the other hand people grow old with rather greater frequency.
**This quote offers a contemplative observation on the nature of societal change and personal aging. The speaker is grappling with a sense that the world may be descending into chaos or dissolution, which is a common reflection during times of uncertainty or upheaval. There's a recognition of the cyclicality of civilizations—historically, societies have risen and fallen, often leaving behind legacies that influence future generations. At the same time, the speaker ponders whether their perception is influenced by their age, suggesting that as individuals grow older, their worldview mutates—they may become more aware of decay, loss, or the impermanence of structures they once took for granted. This internal dialogue captures a universal human experience: the tension between observing societal decline and the acceptance of personal mortality. The phrase
