When it becomes a bloody reality, we have to come together and look at what can be done to return to the order of peace, ... There is no alternative to it.
You know when civilization began? With the invention of the mirror.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that self-reflection is a pivotal moment in human civilization.
Shimon Peres' quote implies that the invention of the mirror symbolizes the beginning of civilization, as it represents humanity's ability to reflect on itself, its nature, and its existence. The mirror metaphorically allows individuals and societies to confront their identities, fostering growth, understanding, and progress, which are essential elements of civilized life.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of self-awareness in leadership, one might say, 'As Shimon Peres said, civilization began with the invention of the mirror, highlighting how vital self-reflection is for effective leadership.'
More from Shimon Peres
All quotes βI didn't plan to be a politician. The founder of our country, David Ben-Gurion, called me from the kibbutz to serve in the underground. We were short of manpower, short of arms. I was 24 years old. I was supposed to serve my country for one or two years. I am 89 years old this year, and I keep going.
The United States is the only power in history that became great by giving and not by taking. I think the crisis was when the United States had more money than ideas. Money doesn't produce money. Ideas produce money.
The problem of the Middle East is poverty more than politics.
The Iranian regime suppresses its own people as well as others in the region. It prevents peace by sponsoring terror globally. With the ultimate weapon that it is deceptively developing, the regime aims to gain hegemony over the entire Middle East and hold the world's economy hostage.
Early in the morning, I fell in love with the girl that later on became my wife. At that time, we were so naive. I wanted to charm her, so I read her Capital by Marx. I thought somehow she would be convinced by the strength of his criticism about capital.
Similar quotes
No man dies for what he knows to be true. Men die for what they want to be true, for what some terror in their hearts tells them is not true.
Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good. In area after area - crime, education, housing, race relations - the situation has gotten worse after the bright new theories were put into operation. The amazing thing is that this history of failure and disaster has neither discouraged the social engineers nor discredited them.
When a war is won, it's the losers, not the winners, who are liberated.
You see, there's the way things seemed and then there's the way things were and one is so often the total reverse of the other.
The world is only tolerable because of the empty places in it...when the world's filled up, we'll have to get hold of a star. Any star. Venus, or Mars. Get hold of it and leave it empty. Man needs an empty space somewhere for his spirit to rest in.
'Men don't cry!' 'Women can't handle money!' What limiting ideas to live with.