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Quote by Howard Zinn

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You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times

Written by Howard Zinn, this work is a blend of personal anecdotes and critical analysis, examining the impact of historical events on the author's life and the broader society. The book delves into the author's involvement in various social movements and his reflections on the role of activism in shaping the modern world. more

Author

Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn

American historian known for his critical analysis of historical events and advocacy for social justice. His work emphasizes the connection between history and contemporary social issues, particularly focusing on the role of ordinary people in the historical process. more

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“The power of a bold idea uttered publicly in defiance of dominant opinion cannot be easily measured. Those special people who speak out in such a way as to shake up not only the self-assurance of their enemies, but the complacency of their friends, are precious catalysts for change.”

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Book:You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times
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“There is a power that can be created out of pent-up indignation, courage, and the inspiration of a common cause, and that if enough people put their minds and bodies into that cause, they can win. It is a phenomenon recorded again and against in the history of popular movements against injustice all over the world.”

PeopleIfsWorldMindEnoughBodyInspirationWinningCausesCommonMovementInjusticePhenomenonMind And BodyIndignation
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“I see this as the central issue of our time: how to find a substitute for war in human ingenuity, imagination, courage, sacrifice, patience... War is not inevitable, however persistent it is, however long a history it has in human affairs. It does not come out of some instinctive human need. It is manufactured by political leaders, who then must make a tremendous effort--by enticement, by propaganda, by coercion--to mobilize a normally reluctant population to go to war.”

NeedsHumansLongDoeWarPoliticalImaginationEffortLeaderIssuesSacrificeAffairPopulationInevitablePropagandaOur TimeSubstitutesPersistentCoercionReluctantIngenuityPolitical LeadersHuman NeedsEnticement
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“History can come in handy. If you were born yesterday, with no knowledge of the past, you might easily accept whatever the government tells you. But knowing a bit of history--while it would not absolutely prove the government was lying in a given instance--might make you skeptical, lead you to ask questions, make it more likely that you would find out the truth.”

IfsGovernmentMightPastLyingAsksGivenBitsBornAcceptingKnowingProveYesterdayInstanceSkepticalCritical ThinkingHandyKnowledge Of The Past
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“That chain of relationships made me think of how connections are made--you read a book, you meet a person, you have a single experience, and your life is changed in some way. No act, therefore, however small, should be dismissed or ignored.”

ThinkingWayShouldPersonsMadeBookLife IsChangedConnectionsChainsIgnored
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