Historians are to nationalism what poppy-growers in Pakistan are to heroin-addicts: we supply the essential raw material for the market.
Eric HobsbawmRead
Nations without a past are contradictions in terms. What makes a nation is the past, what justifies one nation against others is the past, and historians are the people who produce it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A nation’s identity and justification are deeply rooted in its history.
This quote emphasizes the significance of a nation's past in shaping its identity and existence. Hobsbawm argues that history is not only a record of events but the foundation upon which nations build their sense of self and justify their uniqueness, highlighting the crucial role of historians in interpreting and conveying this past.
Themes
HistoryIdentityNationPastHistorians
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about national identity in a history class.
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As the global expansion of Indian and Chinese restaurants suggests, xenophobia is directed against foreign people, not foreign cultural imports.
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