"It is not history which uses men as a means of achieving - as if it were an individual person - its own ends. History is nothing but the activity of men in pursuit of their ends"
- Karl Marx
About this Quote
In this quote, Karl Marx is suggesting that history does not manipulate people for its own purposes. Rather, history is a direct result of individuals pursuing their own objectives and goals in society. In other words, it is the actions of individuals within society that drive historic events, not the other way around. Therefore, history can be seen as the sum of the collective actions of people instead of as a force unto itself.
"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"
