Love consists in leaving the loved one space to be themselves while providing the security within which that self may flourish.
Tony JudtRead
It would be suicide in the American academy to show too early an interest beyond your doctoral specialization: charges of everything from charlatanry to ambition would be levied and tenure denied. I've seen this first-hand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In academia, showing interests outside of your specialization can harm your career prospects.
Tony Judt's quote highlights the restrictive nature of the American academic system, where academics are often discouraged from exploring interests beyond their specific area of expertise. This confinement can lead to fears of being accused of inauthenticity or excessive ambition, ultimately impacting one's chances for tenure and recognition. Judt emphasizes the detrimental effects this culture can have on intellectual curiosity and holistic scholarship.
Themes
AcademiaSpecializationCareerTenureIntellectual Curiosity
In practice
Example use cases
During a keynote speech at a university conference, one might reference this quote to discuss the importance of interdisciplinary studies.
More from Tony Judt
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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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