Will & Ariel Durant

Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.

Will & Ariel Durant, The Lessons of History (1968). This pronouncement is often attributed — with grave authority — to Will Durant alone, cited as from a 1946 Ladies Home Journal article, “What Is Civilization?” This appears to be incorrect: read the article, it’s excellent; but the apothegm is not to be found there.