The Old and the young

"There is the moral of all human tales;
'Tis but the same rehearsal of the past,
First freedom, and then Glory--when that fails,
Wealth, vice, corruption,--barbarism at last.
And History, will all her volumes vast,
Hath but one page..."

--Lord Byron

Barbarism: An offense against purity of style or language;
Ignorance of arts;
Want of learning;
Rudeness of manners, incivility, ferociousness,
A savage state of society
Brutality, cruelty

(Lest you think I'm pessimistic, I would say it's going to cycle around again and how fast we get to the next chapter depends on you and me!)

Art credit: The Old and the Young Sweden by August Malmstrom