The unspoken contract between ruler and subject is that in return for safety, prosperity, and prestige, the Russians entrust power and cede democratic freedoms to their leaders.
Simon Sebag-MontefioreRead
The vanishing of David Tang is like the unthinkable diappearance of a magnificent palace on a mythical mountaintop. He was a dreammaker, pianist, adventurer, writer, entrepreneur, scholar, connoisseur, and a great friend.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the profound impact of David Tang's life and the void left by his absence, likening it to the loss of something extraordinary.
Simon Sebag-Montefiore's quote about David Tang emphasizes the uniqueness of Tang's character and the remarkable contributions he made as a multifaceted individual. By comparing his disappearance to that of a magnificent palace, the quote highlights the richness of Tang's experiences and relationships, suggesting that his legacy will remain cherished among those who knew him.
Themes
FriendshipLegacyImpactLifeLoss
In practice
Example use cases
In a eulogy at a memorial service.
More from Simon Sebag-Montefiore
All quotes →The political lives of tyrants play out human affairs with a special intensity: the death of a democratic leader long after his retirement is a private matter, but the death of a tyrant is always a political act that reflects the character of his power.
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Under Stalin, artists weren't dissidents; all they hoped was to survive and write.
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It's the mix of the trivial and the great events that make up history. It's the low things about high people that make it fascinating, and that's why it would be a shame to exclude the trivial things. That mixing up is not just at the heart of history. It's at the heart of how to live a great life.
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The disorder, uncertainty, and strife of a revolution make citizens yearn for stable authority, or they turn to radicalism.
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A revolution resembles the death of a fading star, an exhilarating Technicolor explosion that gives way not to an ordered new galaxy but to a nebula, a formless cloud of shifting energy.
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