Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don't have any kids yourself.
Philip LarkinRead
We have our own system, ... and journalists in our system are not put in prison for embarrassing the government by revealing things the government might not wish to have revealed. The important thing is that our system, under which journalists can write without fear or favor, should continue.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of a free press in a democratic society.
Chris Patten’s quote highlights the critical role that a free and independent press plays in holding government accountable and ensuring transparency. It underscores the idea that journalists must be able to operate without fear of reprisal, as their ability to reveal uncomfortable truths is essential for a healthy democracy. The preservation of such a system is portrayed as vital for the public’s right to know and the overall function of society.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of democracy, a politician might quote this to emphasize the role of the media.
Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don't have any kids yourself.
The universal brotherhood of man is our most precious possession.
There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into her chair, exasperated. Not in dreams; but here and now, in this room, with living people. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice with her hair blown back; she was about to grasp something that just evaded her. There must be another life, here and now, she repeated. This is too short, too broken. We know nothing, even about ourselves.
An event may be small and insignificant in its origin , and yet, when drawn close to one’s eye, it may open in its center an infinite and radiant perspective because a higher order of being is trying to express itself in it and irradiates it violently.
All women, and men of color - we were owned like tables and chairs. We spent a hundred years getting a legal identity as human beings. That's a big thing.
Today is unique! It has never occurred and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally. Forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities.
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