Perhaps the most frequently cited observation drawn from Ibn Khaldūn's work is the notion that when a society becomes a great civilization (and, presumably, the dominant culture in its region), its high point is followed by a period of decay.
Možda najučestalije citirano promatranje izvučeno iz Ibn Haldunova djela jest, u laičkim terminima, zamisao da kada društvo postane velika civilizacija (te vjerojatno i dominantna kultura u regiji), nakon njegove visoke točke slijedi razdoblje propasti.