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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
Quality Of LifeEnd Of LifeDisabilityLife DecisionsDignity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about healthcare policies and patient rights.
More from Tony Judt
All quotes →If active or concerned citizens forfeit politics, they thereby abandon their society to its most mediocre and venal public servants
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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.
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Social democracy does not represent an ideal future; it does not even represent the ideal past.
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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.
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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.
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