"Instead of saying that man is the creature of circumstance, it would be nearer the mark to say that man is the architect of circumstance."

-Thomas Carlyle (British Historian, 1795-1881)

Two major theories about the progress of society include the ecclesiastical and secular theories. Supporters of the religious theory say that God created the world. They say that everything is God's will and an individual cannot change anything. The secular theory has a few trends. The major trends include the theory that great individuals can create circumstance and the theory that circumstance brings out the great individuals. The theory I support is the worldwide theory. Modernization is based on the needs of people for a strong government, a steady economy, a rich culture, as well as many other facets of society. The needs of people are the circumstances that allow modernization to occur.

Thomas Carlyle's quote supports the...