So much of the news was invented for propaganda.
Elsa MoranteRead
Man, by his very nature, tends to give himself an explanation of the world into which he is born. And this is what distinguishes him from the other species. Every individual, even the least intelligent, the lowest of outcasts, from childhood on gives himself some explanation of the world. And with it he manages to live. And without it, he would sink into madness.
Interpretation
Humans seek to understand their existence and the world around them, which is essential for mental stability.
This quote by Elsa Morante emphasizes the innate human drive to interpret and make sense of the world. It suggests that every individual, regardless of their intelligence or social status, crafts personal explanations of their reality as a means to cope with life. Morante posits that this quest for understanding is what prevents humanity from descending into chaos or madness, highlighting the fundamental role of self-explanation in human psychology.
In practice
This quote can be used in a philosophical discussion about the nature of human consciousness.
So much of the news was invented for propaganda.
. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.
Even if one is interested only in one's own society, which is one's prerogative, one can understand that society much better by comparing it with others.
The doctrine of immortality rests upon human affection. We love; therefore, we wish to live.
The objection to Puritans is not that they try to make us think as they do, but that they try to make us do as they think.
Almost nobody believes anymore that infants are insensate blobs. It seems both mad and evil to deny experience and feeling to a laughing, gurgling creature.
Choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions.
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