For an individual as well as for a society, there is a gulf between merely living and living worthily.
For an individual as well as a society, there is a gulf between merely living and living worthily. To fight in a battle and live in glory is one mode. To beat a retreat, to surrender and to live the life of a captive is also a mode of survival.
The question is not whether a community lives or dies, the question is on what plane does it live? There are different modes of survival. But all are not equally honorable.