The fall of Empire, gentlemen, is a massive thing, however, and not easily fought. It is dictated by a rising bureaucracy, a receding initiative, a freezing of caste, a damming of curiosity—a hundred other factors.
Here we have what could have been some principles of psychohistory: When an Empire A) becomes overwhelmed by a sprawling, unruly bureacracy B) becomes lazy and content C) allows privileged classes to solidify and D) is not longer intellectually curious, said Empire may be on the decline.
Would have liked to have known Asimov's 'hundreds of other factors'.
