Love consists in leaving the loved one space to be themselves while providing the security within which that self may flourish.
Tony JudtRead
We are not merely historians but also and always citizens.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the dual role of individuals as both historians and active participants in society.
Tony Judt's quote suggests that individuals should not only document and analyze history, but also engage with the present societal issues. It highlights the responsibility of citizens to understand their past while actively contributing to the shaping of their communities and futures.
Themes
HistoryCitizenshipEngagementSocietyResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the importance of civic engagement in democratic societies.
More from Tony Judt
All quotes βIf active or concerned citizens forfeit politics, they thereby abandon their society to its most mediocre and venal public servants
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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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