"History could pass for a scarlet text, its jot and title graven red in human blood"
- Eldridge Cleaver
About this Quote
In this quote, Eldridge Cleaver is utilizing vibrant images to describe the impact of history on mankind. He compares history to a "scarlet text," which recommends that it is filled with violence, pain, and suffering. The phrase "jot and title" describes every detail and aspect of history, highlighting that even the smallest occasions have been marked by bloodshed. By using the color red, Cleaver even more stresses the bloodshed and violence that has been instilled in history. In general, this quote highlights the destructive nature of human history and the long lasting impact it has actually had on society.
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do"
