The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born; now is the time of monsters
Antonio GramsciRead
The starting-point of critical elaboration is the consciousness of what one really is, and is 'knowing thyself'as a product of the historical processes to date, which has deposited in you an infinity of traces, without leaving an inventory.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding oneself is the first step towards critical thought and awareness of one's historical context.
This quote by Antonio Gramsci highlights the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's identity as shaped by historical experiences. It suggests that before engaging in critical thinking and analysis, individuals must first acknowledge their own realities and the influences that have shaped them, even if those influences are not clearly documented or understood. The process of self-discovery is complex and layered, reflecting the intricacies of individual and collective history.
Themes
Self-AwarenessIdentityHistoryCritical ThinkingPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the importance of self-awareness in understanding ethical perspectives.
More from Antonio Gramsci
All quotes βI'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.
Antonio GramsciRead
The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born
Antonio GramsciRead
To tell the truth is revolutionary.
Antonio GramsciRead
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).
Antonio GramsciRead
Man is above all else mind, consciousness -- that is, he is a product of history, not of nature.
Antonio GramsciRead
Similar quotes
There have been innumerable Temporary Seekers after the Truth-have you ever heard of a permanent one?
Mark TwainRead
Money has transformed every watchdog, every independent authority. Medical doctors are increasingly gulled by the lobbying of pharmaceutical salesmen.
Thomas FrankRead
For it is not the shape, but their use, that makes them angels.
Thomas HobbesRead
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thomas JeffersonRead
There is a door. It opens. Then it is closed. But a slip of light stays, like a scrap of unreadable paper left on the floor, or the one red leaf the snow releases in March
Jane HirshfieldRead
Neutrality is a negative word. It does not express what America ought to feel. We are not trying to keep out of trouble; we are trying to preserve the foundations on which peace may be rebuilt.
Woodrow WilsonRead