translation.en: I don't think the decline of Western civilization is inevitable, because I don't think history operates in this kind of life-cycle model, beautifully illustrated by Thomas Cole's "Course of Empire" paintings.
translation.zh: 我认为西方文明的衰落 是不可避免的 因为我认为历史并不是 以生命循环的方式发展的 并非托马斯·科尔的系列画作 “帝国的兴衰”所描绘的那般绮丽