If we trace the history of any nation backwards into the past, we come at last to a period of myths and traditions which eventually fade away into impenetrable darkness.
Interpretation
Nations are built over time through myths and traditions that can become lost or forgotten.
This quote by Bal Gangadhar Tilak reflects on the origins of nations, suggesting that as we delve into their history, we encounter a time when cultural myths and traditions played a crucial role in shaping their identity. However, as we go further back in time, these narratives become less clear and eventually disappear into obscurity, highlighting the transient nature of history and cultural memory.
In practice
During a speech on cultural identity, one might quote Tilak to emphasize the importance of understanding historical roots.
The most practical teaching of the Gita, and one for which it is of abiding interest and value to the men of the world with whom life is a series of struggles, is not to give way to any morbid sentimentality when duty demands sternness and the boldness to face terrible things.
Religion and practical life are not different. To take sanyas (renunciation) is not to abandon life. The real spirit is to make the country, your family, work together instead of working only for your own. The step beyond is to serve humanity and the next step is to serve God.
So I have cultivated the vast garden of human experience which is history, without troubling myself overmuch about laws, essential first causes, or how it is all coming out.
Poland was the racial laboratory of the Nazis. This is where they started to put their abhorrent theories into practice.
The historian is, by definition, absolutely incapable of observing the facts which he examines.
I can say that we are very clear in our mind about the responsibility of the national soldiers for the break with civilisation that was the Shoah. We are firmly convinced that this is something that will have to be handed over to generations to come... so we don't see any reason to change our view of history.
No big modern war has been won without preponderant sea power; and, conversely, very few rebellions of maritime provinces have succeeded without acquiring sea power.
We lost the American colonies because we lacked the statesmanship to know the right time and the manner of yielding what is impossible to keep.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.