There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than politicians think. We have to be there at the birth of ideas, the bursting outward of their force: not in books expressing them, but in events manifesting this force, in struggles carried on around ideas, for or against them. Ideas do not rule the world. But it is because the world has ideas... that it is not passively ruled by those who are its leaders or those who would like to teach it, once and for all, what it must think.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the power and significance of ideas in shaping the world. It suggests that ideas are not merely confined to the realm of intellectuals but are present in various forms and are more influential than politicians may perceive. The quote encourages active engagement with ideas by being present during their emergence and witnessing how they manifest themselves in real-world events and struggles. It challenges the notion that leaders or those attempting to impose their ideologies determine the course of the world, highlighting the autonomy and dynamism of ideas in driving societal change.

Topics