"Man watches his history on the screen with apathy and an occasional passing flicker of horror or indignation"
- Conor Cruise O'Brien
About this Quote
This quote by Conor Cruise O'Brien speaks with the disconnect between the events of history and the method which they exist to us. O'Brien recommends that when we view history on a screen, we are frequently apathetic and unengaged. We may feel a fleeting moment of horror or indignation, however it quickly passes. This talks to the idea that we are often desensitized to the events of history, which we are not able to fully understand the gravity of what has actually happened. O'Brien's quote is a suggestion that we must be mindful of our own reactions to history, and that we need to strive to be more engaged and thoughtful in our understanding of the past. We need to make every effort to be more aware of the ramifications of our history, and to be more taken part in the conversations surrounding it.
"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"
