The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters
Antonio GramsciRead
Man is above all else mind, consciousness -- that is, he is a product of history, not of nature.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that human identity and development are shaped more by historical and social factors than by natural instincts.
Gramsci emphasizes the significance of the mind and consciousness as fundamental aspects of human beings. He argues that our identities and behaviors are not strictly determined by biological nature, but are largely influenced by the historical context and social relationships in which individuals exist. This reflection invites contemplation on how culture, society, and history shape human experience and thought.
Themes
MindConsciousnessHistoryIdentityNature
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy class discussing the influence of societal factors on human behavior.
More from Antonio Gramsci
All quotes βI'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.
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The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born
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To tell the truth is revolutionary.
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Revolutionaries see history as a creation of their own spirit, as being made up of a continuous series of violent tugs at the other forces of society - both active and passive, and they prepare the maximum of favourable conditions for the definitive tug (revolution).
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History is at once freedom and necessity.
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The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot.
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Mass communication, radio, and especially television, have attempted, not without success, to annihilate every possibility of solitude and reflection.
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Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
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The Declaration of Independence . . . [is the] declaratory charter of our rights, and the rights of man.
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