The quote highlights a cyclical pattern in human history where each generation reacts to the previous one. The first generation seeks a divine figure, creating a god to guide them. In the next generation, there’s a formalization of worship, as people build temples and strive to emulate the virtues of that deity. However, the third generation departs from these ideals in a significant way.

Instead of continuing to honor the values of the past, they exploit the remnants of those traditions for personal gain, transforming sacred symbols into instruments of vice. As a result, society devolves, with gods and heroes giving way to mediocrity and moral decay. This critique suggests that each generation is shaped by the failings of the one before it, leading to a decline in virtue and wisdom.