Love consists in leaving the loved one space to be themselves while providing the security within which that self may flourish.
Tony JudtRead
I was born in 1948, so I'm a '60s kid, and in the '60s everyone talked all the time, endlessly, about socialism versus capitalism, about political choices, ideology, Marxism, revolution, 'the system' and so on.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the intense ideological debates of the 1960s, emphasizing the significance of political discourse during that time.
Tony Judt reflects on his experiences growing up in the 1960s, a decade characterized by fervent discussions surrounding major political ideologies such as socialism and capitalism. He suggests that the culture of open debate and the exploration of revolutionary ideas were defining features of that era, illustrating how these discussions shaped the political landscape and influenced people's thoughts and actions.
In practice
In a discussion on political science, this quote can highlight the importance of ideology in shaping societies.
Love consists in leaving the loved one space to be themselves while providing the security within which that self may flourish.
If active or concerned citizens forfeit politics, they thereby abandon their society to its most mediocre and venal public servants
Obviously a primary liberal conviction is that we should be tolerant of other peoples' convictions. But if we believe in something, we had better find ways to say so convincingly.
Social democracy does not represent an ideal future; it does not even represent the ideal past.
What I am against is false optimism: the notion either that things have to go well, or else that they tend to, or else that the default condition of historical trajectories is characteristically beneficial in the long-run.
I'm not sure I've learned anything new about life; but I've had to think harder about death and what comes after for other people.
Fundamentalism as it is called is not confined to the Muslim world. It is something that we have seen in different parts of the world. Let us hope that a dialogue between the followers of the three great monotheistic religions could help in putting an end to this.
It is a terrible thought, to contemplate that an immense number of mediocre thinkers are occupied with really influential matters.
Our animal friendsβ non-reactive and forgiving natures can teach us positive spiritual lessons on a daily basis.
When people get taken over by the ego to such an extent, there is nothing else in their mind except the ego. They can no longer feel or sense their humanity - what they share with other human beings, or even with other life forms on the planet. They are so identified with concepts in their minds that other human beings become concepts as well.
If our impulses were confined to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be nearly free; but now we are moved by every wind that blows and a chance word or scene that that word may convey to us.
To each individual the world will take on a different connotation of meaning-the important lies in the desire to search for an answer.
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