Quote by Jean Genet

Crimes of which a people is ashamed constitute its real history. The same is true of man.

Crimes of which a people is ashamed constitute its real hist

Summary

This quote suggests that a people's or an individual's true history lies within their shameful acts and crimes. It implies that the darkest moments and wrongdoings reflect the real character or history of a group or person, as these actions reveal innate flaws and imperfections. In essence, it suggests that true growth and understanding occur when facing and acknowledging shameful deeds rather than glossing over them. The quote highlights the importance of recognizing and confronting past mistakes to avoid repeating them in the future.

Topics

History

By Jean Genet

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

The tenderest spot in a man's make-up is sometimes the bald

The tenderest spot in a man's make-up is sometimes the bald spot on top of his head.

Men

Government's role should be only to keep the playing field l

Government's role should be only to keep the playing field level, and to work hand in hand with business on issues such as employment. But beyond this, to as great an extent as possible, it should get the hell out of the way.

Business

To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be fors

To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Sin

I didn't have a teacher like Sister Mary Ignatius.

I didn't have a teacher like Sister Mary Ignatius.

Christopher Durang

Teacher

I realize that every picture isn't a work of art.

I realize that every picture isn't a work of art.

Art

When a contradiction is impossible to resolve except by a li

When a contradiction is impossible to resolve except by a lie, then we know that it is really a door.

Problems

Common sense is not so common.

Common sense is not so common.

Intelligence

Intellectual 'work' is misnamed; it is a pleasure, a dissipa

Intellectual 'work' is misnamed; it is a pleasure, a dissipation, and is its own highest reward. The poorest paid architect, engineer, general, author, sculptor, painter, lecturer, advocate, legislator, actor, preacher, singer, is constructively in heaven when he is at work; and as for the magician with the fiddle-bow in his hand, who sits in the midst of a great orchestra with the ebbing and flowing tides of divine sound washing over him - why, certainly he is at work, if you wish to call it that, but lord, it's a sarcasm just the same. The law of work does seem utterly unfair - but there it is, and nothing can change it: the higher the pay in enjoyment the worker gets out of it, the higher shall be his pay in cash also.

Work

As a reward for their efforts, however, those early Christia

As a reward for their efforts, however, those early Christians were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking.

Death

Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to.

Goodness is about what you do. Not who you pray to.

Terry Pratchett

Prayer Goodness

I think that both men, Bush and Blair, will be damned in his

I think that both men, Bush and Blair, will be damned in history. Both men have made their respective countries the two most hated countries in the world.

George Galloway

History

I was considered by my peers to be a good comedian. So that'

I was considered by my peers to be a good comedian. So that's all I ever strived to do was get some recognition from my peers.

Good