Quote by Henry David Thoreau
Nations! What are nations? Tartars! and Huns! and Chinamen! Like insects they swarm. The historian strives in vain to make them memorable. It is for want of a man that there are so many men. It is individuals that populate the world.
Summary
This quote, by French author and philosopher Jean de La Bruyère, suggests that the concept of nations is insignificant and fleeting when compared to the significance of individuals. La Bruyère argues that history attempts to memorialize nations, but their true worth lies in the individuals that make them up. The quote further emphasizes the idea that a nation is simply a collective of people, highlighting the importance of individuals in shaping and populating the world.
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