I think that is where the notion of societal cycles comes from (harsh times make strong men, strong men make good times, good times make weak men *we are here*, weak men make harsh times). We are at the onset of a societal collapse (see John Michael Greer). The signs of it are blatant and everywhere. What that collapse will look like and where it will lead and if we will ever recover what we have now are open to discussion. All I know for sure is that at some time in the distant Stone Age future there will be a group of long nosed parasites setting tribe against tribe so they can live off the pain and settle comfortably in the chaos.