American politics is a struggle, not of men but of forces. The men become every year more and more creatures of force, massed about central power houses.
Henry AdamsRead
His brothers were the type; he was the variation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes individuality within a family context, suggesting that one can be distinct from the familial norms.
Henry Adams reflects on the idea that within a family, individuals can embody unique traits or characteristics that set them apart from their relatives. While his brothers represent a specific type or set of values, he considers himself a 'variation'βhighlighting the beauty and complexity of individual differences within familial relationships.
Themes
IndividualityFamilyVariationDifferencePersonal Identity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about embracing our differences during a family gathering.
More from Henry Adams
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Simplicity is the most deceitful mistress that ever betrayed man.
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Church and State, Soul and Body, God and Man, are all one at Mont Saint Michel, and the business of all is to fight, each in his own way, or to stand guard for each other.
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The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port to seek.
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The effect of power and publicity on all men is the aggravation of self, a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim's sympathies.
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