The Fourth Turning Is Here: What the Seasons of History Tell Us about How and When This Crisis Will End

by Neil Howe

Back in the mid-1970s, Ronald Reagan famously declared that the ten most terrifying words in the English language are “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.” Stanford historian Ian Morris, who has argued at great length (with Holmes and against James) that war is indeed inevitable, observes that Reagan’s quip could only make sense at a uniquely secure moment in a uniquely comfortable corner of the world. For most of humanity and throughout most of history, writes Morris, the ten most terrifying words are “There is no government, and I’m here to kill you.” War, he implies, is what happens when people are lucky enough to have an effective government willing to protect them.