A decadência pode ser vista quando olhamos para a humanidade.

"When the moon, after covering herself with darkness as in sorrow, at last throws off the garments of her widowhood, she does not at once expose herself impudently to the public gaze; but for a time remains veiled in a transparent cloud, till she gradually acquires courage to endure the looks and admiration of beholders." ~Augustus William Hare and Julius Charles Hare, Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers, 1827 "To lovers, I devise their imaginary world, with whatever they may need, as the stars of the sky, the red, red roses by the wall, the snow of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of music, and aught else they may desire to figure to each other the lastingness and beauty of their love." ~Williston Fish, "A Last Will," 1898