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Quote by Pankaj Mishra

“In America, you don't even have proper holidays. It's really one of the most prosperous slave societies in history. People work their asses off all year long and get two weeks off! It's incredible.”

Quote by Pankaj Mishra

Author

Pankaj Mishra is an Indian-born British essayist and historian, recognized for his insightful and critical essays on history, politics, and culture. Born in 1969, he has gained attention for his exploration of the complexities of modernity and its effects on the world. more

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“We are always boosting or trying to prop up the ego by fulfilling some desire or other, and always craving affirmation from the outside.”

Trying Desire Ego Fulfilling Affirmation Craving Props

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“There was great political uncertainty in South Asia at the time of the Buddha. The older small tribal societies were cracking up and gave way to bigger states. There was much more trade and travel going on than before. To people in the cities the experience of living in a small place where you knew everyone and governed your affairs by consensual democracy had been lost.”

People Way States Political Lost Cities Democracy Bigger Trade South Affair Uncertainty Asia Great Political South Asia Small Places Cracking Up

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“There is this idea of history as something you make, as a meaningful narrative with a beginning and an end, the end being a utopia of happiness that we'll reach through socialism or free trade or democracy, and then it will all be wonderful.”

Ideas Ends Democracy Wonderful Trade Meaningful Socialism Narrative Utopia Free Trade

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“The idea that human beings can make history, that is something quite unique to the modern West.”

Humans Ideas Human Beings Modern Unique West

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“Western conception of history has had great consequences over the last two hundred years. You see it in the invasion of Iraq. You see it in almost everything that is said and done.”

Years Said Two Done Lasts Hundred Consequence Western Iraq Conception Invasion Said And Done

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“I myself, at one time, wanted to be like the explorers of the Himalayas that I used to read about; people intoxicated on the myth of history.”

People Wanted Used Myth One Time Explorers Intoxicated Himalayas

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“Most writers have very little that's important or valuable to offer; most of them are just repeating each other.”

Littles Important Offers Valuable

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“I still prefer going to the classical writers, the modernists and the nineteenth century writers. Much of what has been done since then has just been repetition. A lot of it is marvelous but the forms haven't changed.”

Has Beens Stills Done Form Century Havens Changed Marvelous Repetition Nineteenth Century

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“Most suffering is human-made and avoidable. It's mostly in your head.”

Humans Made Suffering

Author:Pankaj Mishra

“I think what's important and extraordinarily practical about Buddhism, is that it offers very concrete methods for people to work with.”

People Thinking Important Buddhism Offers Method Practicals Concrete What's Important

Author:Pankaj Mishra