This quote suggests that the faster a civilization advances, the quicker it exhausts its resources, leading to its eventual downfall. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as overconsumption, environmental degradation, or social unrest caused by rapid changes. Once this civilization collapses, it creates a vacuum that allows for a new civilization to rise and take its place. This cycle of growth and decay can be seen throughout history with the rise and fall of various empires and civilizations.

In the context of today’s world, this quote can be seen as a warning against unsustainable growth. Many modern societies are advancing at an unprecedented pace, especially in terms of technology and economy. However, this rapid progress often comes at the cost of environmental sustainability and social equity. If we continue on this trajectory, we might exhaust our planet’s resources and create social divisions that could lead to the downfall of our civilization. Therefore, it’s crucial to strive for a balanced and sustainable progress.

On a personal level, this quote can be interpreted as a reminder to pace ourselves in our pursuit of success. In the race to achieve more, we often push ourselves to the brink of burnout. Just like a civilization, we also need to ensure our growth is sustainable. We need to balance our ambition with self-care, and ensure we’re not sacrificing our health or relationships in the pursuit of success. Otherwise, we might find ourselves collapsing under the pressure, and having to start over again. So, it’s important to strive for a steady, balanced progress rather than a rapid, unsustainable one.