G. W. F. Hegel on Cultural Bio-Clocks (cAD 1830)

“When the spirit of the nation has fulfilled its function, its agility and interest flag; the nation lives on the borderline between manhood and old age, and enjoys the fruits of its efforts… The natural death of the national spirit may take the form of political stagnation, or of what we call habit. The clock is wound up and runs automatically… Thus both nations and individuals die a natural death" ("Lectures on the Philosophy of World History")