History may be divided into three movements: what moves rapidly, what moves slowly and what appears not to move at all.
Fernand BraudelRead
For the historian everything begins and ends with time, a mathematical, godlike_x000D_ _x000D_ time, a notion easily mocked, time external to men, 'exogenous,' as economists_x000D_ _x000D_ would say, pushing men, forcing them, and painting their own individual times_x000D_ _x000D_ the same color: it is, indeed, the imperious time of the world.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the concept of time as an external force shaping human experiences and history.
Fernand Braudel's quote emphasizes the importance of time in understanding history. He describes time as a powerful, almost divine entity that influences people's lives and experiences, suggesting that individual human timelines are affected by a larger, imperious world time that cannot be ignored. This view challenges us to recognize how external forces shape our histories and perspectives.
In practice
In a lecture about historical timelines and their impact on society.
History may be divided into three movements: what moves rapidly, what moves slowly and what appears not to move at all.
Events are the ephemera of history; they pass across its stage like fireflies, hardly glimpsed before they settle back into darkness and as often as not into oblivion. Every event, however brief, has to be sure a contribution to make, lights up some dark corner or even some wide vista of history. Nor is it only political history which benefits most, for every historical landscape - political, economic, social, even geographical - is illumined by the intermittent flare of the event.
Leadership of a world-economy is an experience of power which may blind the victor to the march of history.
NOUMENON, n. That which exists, as distinguished from that which merely seems to exist, the latter being a phenomenon. The noumenon is a bit difficult to locate; it can be apprehended only by a process of reasoning - which is a phenomenon.
And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.
The most fatal seductive lie that has yet existed
Our cure, to be no more; sad cure!
There are a few dogmas and double standards and really regrettable exports from philosophy that have confounded the thinking of scientists on the subject of morality.
We live with a distinct double standard about male and female aggression. Women's aggression isn't considered real. It isn't dangerous; it's only cute. Or it's always self-defense or otherwise inspired by a man. In the rare case where a woman is seen as genuinely responsible, she is branded a monster - an 'unnatural' woman.
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