Alexander Nehamas (1946) Professor of philosophy
Foreword to Alain Renaut, The Era of the Individual (1999), p. xi.
“Before the terrifying prospects now available to humanity, we see even more clearly that peace is the only goal worth struggling for. This is no longer a prayer but a demand to be made by all peoples to their governments — a demand to choose definitively between hell and reason.”
Between Hell and Reason (1945)
Context: Let us be understood. If the Japanese surrender after the destruction of Hiroshima, having been intimidated, we will rejoice. But we refuse to see anything in such grave news other than the need to argue more energetically in favor of a true international society, in which the great powers will not have superior rights over small and middle-sized nations, where such an ultimate weapon will be controlled by human intelligence rather than by the appetites and doctrines of various states.
Before the terrifying prospects now available to humanity, we see even more clearly that peace is the only goal worth struggling for. This is no longer a prayer but a demand to be made by all peoples to their governments — a demand to choose definitively between hell and reason.
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Albert Camus209
French author and journalist 1913–1960Related quotes
Tawakkol Karman (1979) Yemeni journalist, politician, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)
Jonah Goldberg (1969) American political writer and pundit
2010s, 2018, A Free People Must Be Virtuous (2018)
“War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace.”
Khaled Hosseini book The Kite Runner
Baba (115)
Source: The Kite Runner (2003)
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America
1963, American University speech
“Peace demands of Nature the recognition of human rights”
José Martí (1853–1895) Poet, writer, Cuban nationalist leader
My Race (1893)
Context: What right do white racist, who believe their race is superior, have for complaining about black racists, who see something special in their own race? What right do black racists, who see a special character in their race, have for complaining about white racists? White men who think their race makes them superior to black men admit the idea of racial difference and authorize and initiate black racists. Black men who proclaim their race — when what they are really proclaiming is the spiritual identity that distinguishes one ethnic group from another — authorize and incite white racists. Peace demands of Nature the recognition of human rights; discrimination is contrary to Nature and to the enemy of peace. Whites who isolate themselves also isolate Negroes. Negroes who isolate themselves incite and isolate whites.
Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) Führer and Reich Chancellor of Germany, Leader of the Nazi Party
Speech in Saarbrücken (9 October 1938), quoted in The Times (26 September 1939), p. 10
1930s
