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Events can neither be regarded as a series of adventures nor strung on the thread of a preconceived moral. They must obey their own laws.
Leon Trotsky
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Events occur according to their intrinsic nature rather than fitting into human-made narratives or morals.

In this quote, Trotsky emphasizes that events in life should be understood on their own terms, following their inherent rules rather than being forced to conform to a narrative or moral guideline created by individuals. This perspective highlights the complexity and unpredictability of life, suggesting that we cannot always impose our interpretations or expectations upon the experiences we encounter.

Themes

EventsLawsPhilosophyNarrativeNature

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on the unpredictability of life, one might quote Trotsky to illustrate that not everything has a clear moral or lesson.

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History has different yardsticks for the cruelty of the Northerners and the cruelty of the Southerners in the Civil War. A slave-owner who through cunning and violence shackles a slave in chains, and a slave who through cunning or violence breaks the chains – let not the contemptible eunuchs tell us that they are equals before a court of morality!
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