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Quote by Ivan Illich

“The bourgeoisie who could afford to eliminate 'social death' by avoiding retirement, created 'childhood' to keep their young under control.”

Quote by Ivan Illich

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Ivan Illich
Ivan Illich

Ivan Illich, born on September 4, 1926 and died on December 2, 2002, was a renowned philosopher. His research focused on the fields of education, technology, and social criticism, reflecting deeply on modern society. more

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“And yet you haven’t always wanted to die. You have had a life. There have been moments when you were having a life. Of course you don't remember too much about it; but there are photographs to prove it. This was probably happening round about the time of your adolescence, or just after. How great your appetite for life was, then! Existence seemed so rich in new possibilities. You might become a pop singer, go off to Venezuela. More surprising still, you have had a childhood. Observe, now, a child of seven, playing with his little soldiers on the living room carpet. I want you to observe him closely. Since the divorce he no longer has a father. Only rarely does he see his mother, who occupies an important post in a cosmetics firm. And yet he plays with his little soldiers and the interest he takes in these representations of the world and of war seems very keen. He already lacks a bit of affection, that's for sure, but what an air he has of being interested in the world!”

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“When you're small you can inherit a secret without even knowing what it is. You can be trapped in the same film as your mother, because certain things are passed on to you that you're not even aware of, not just a smile or a voice, but unspoken things, too, that you can't understand until later when you grow up. Maybe it's there in my eyes for all to see, the same as it is in my mother's eyes. Maybe it's hidden in my voice, or in the shape of my hands. Maybe it's something you carry with you like a precious object you're told not to lose.”

ChildhoodSecretsThe Speckled People
Book:The Speckled People
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“The rains were over, the skies shone, and Khasak readied itself for Onam, the festival of thanksgiving. Children went up into the hills at sunrise to gather flowers. For ten days they would arrange colourful designs in their yards with flower petals to welcome the deities of the festival. Ravi heard the children sing on the hillsides, and for a fleeting moment they touched him with the joy of a hundred home-comings. The moment passed, and once again he was the fugitive. A fugitive had no home, and a sarai no festival. Ravi sought to share his fears with Madhavan Nair—the Onam recess would last a fortnight. Would the children come back to dreary routine after that spell of freedom? ‘If I were their age, I wouldn’t !’ Ravi said. ‘You lost your childhood somewhere along the way, Maash. I hope the children find it for you.”

ChildhoodInnocenceHolidaysKhasak
Author:O V Vijayan
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“Nu aveam frati sau surori, parintii nu prea puteau sa-mi cumpere jucarii sau jocuri, iar televizorul si calcatoarele inca nu se nascusera. Mi-am petrecut toata copilaria in Kerem Avraham din Iersualim, dar locul in care traiam cu adevarat era la marginea padurii, printre colibele, stepele, pajistile, zapada din povestile mamei mele si din cartile cu poze care se ingramadeau pe masuta joasa de la capul patului meu: eram in est, dar inima imi era in vestul cel mai indepartat. Sau "miazanoaptele cel mai indepartat", cum se spunea in acele carti. Rataceam ametit prin padurile virtuale, paduri de cuvinte, colibe de cuvinte, pajisti de cuvinte. Realitatea cuvintelor inlatura inabusitoarele curti dosnice, fierul ruginit intins peste casele de piatra, balcoanele incarcate de ciubere si sarme de rufe. Ceea ce ma inconjura n-avea importanta. Tot ce avea importanta era facut din cuvinte.”

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Book:A Tale of Love and Darkness
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