Love consists in leaving the loved one space to be themselves while providing the security within which that self may flourish.
Tony JudtRead
No one wants to live in a wheelchair unable to talk, only winking once for yes and twice for no. It's perfectly reasonable that there will come a point where the balance of judgment of life over death swings the other way.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the deep desire for quality of life and the difficult decisions surrounding end-of-life care.
Tony Judt reflects on the harsh realities of living with severe disabilities and the inherent challenges faced in such a state. He acknowledges that while life is valuable, there may come a time when the struggles faced in living become too great, prompting a reconsideration of the value of continued existence versus a dignified end. This contemplation forces society to grapple with the ethics of life and death, especially when quality of life severely diminishes.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about healthcare policies and patient rights.
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.
Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.
I don't know what is the meaning of death, but I am not afraid to die - and I go on, non-stop, going forward with life. Even though I, Bruce Lee, may die some day without fulfilling all of my ambitions, I will have no regrets. I did what I wanted to do and what I've done, I've done with sincerity and to the best of my ability. You can't expect much more from life.
Perhaps the two greatest moments of my life were standing on the moon and being outside of the room when my granddaughter was born! We tend not to remember the worst.
I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
You cut off the capacity for grief in your life, and you cut off the joy at the same time. They both come up through the same tunnel. You don't have one without the other.
Knights die in battle,” Catelyn reminded her. Brienne looked at her with those blue and beautiful eyes. “As ladies die in childbed. No one sings songs about them.
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