Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-3] of 3 Alfred North Whitehead quotesAlfred North Whitehead QuotesAlfred North Whitehead The creation of the world -- said Plato -- is the victory of persuasion over force... Civilization is the maintenance of social order, by its own inherent persuasiveness as embodying the nobler alternative. The recourse to force, however unavoidable, is a disclosure of the failure of civilization, either in the general society or in a remnant of individuals... Now the intercourse between individuals and between social groups takes one of these two forms: force or persuasion. Commerce is the great example of intercourse by way of persuasion. War, slavery, and governmental compulsion exemplify the reign of force.~ Alfred North Whitehead Democracy...is a society in which the unbeliever feels undisturbed and at home. If there were only a half dozen unbelievers in America, their well-being would be a test of our democracy.~ Alfred North Whitehead Every really new idea looks crazy at first.~ Alfred North Whitehead Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print