After all, if there is no class stratification in a society, it follows that there is no state, because the state arose as an instrument to be used by a particular class to control the rest of society in its own interests.
Walter RodneyRead
For the only great men among the unfree and the oppressed are those who struggle to destroy the oppressor.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that true greatness comes from those who fight against oppression.
Walter Rodney's quote highlights the idea that in societies marked by oppression and lack of freedom, it is the courageous individuals who actively resist and challenge their oppressors who embody true greatness. These individuals are not merely passive victims but instead take a stand against injustice, striving for liberation not just for themselves but for others as well.
In practice
In a speech advocating for social justice, one might use this quote to inspire action against systemic oppression.
After all, if there is no class stratification in a society, it follows that there is no state, because the state arose as an instrument to be used by a particular class to control the rest of society in its own interests.
Revolution is the most dramatic appearance of a conscious people.
I did not seek to sell U.S. secrets. I did not partner with any foreign government to guarantee my safety. Instead, I took what I knew to the public so what affects all of us can be discussed by all of us in the light of day, and I asked the world for justice.
If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated suffering.
In 2001, I was being treated for breast cancer, and I was pretty sure I was going to recover.
What I find powerful is a person with the confidence to be her own self.
Don't be afraid - if you don't exercise your rights, you will lose them.
Before my accidents, there were ten thousands things I could do. I could spend the rest of my life dwelling on the things that I had lost, but instead I chose to focus on the nine thousand I still had left.
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