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About this quote

What does it mean?
Humanist ideals from the past have often led to violence and execution in the present.
In plain terms
Humanists of the past lead to executioners today.
What can you take from it?
Idealism can hide violent outcomes.

Where it applies

  • political critique
  • historical analysis
  • moral reasoning

Putting it to work

  • examine historical outcomes
  • question ideology

Questions to consider

  • Are ideals dangerous?
  • How has humanism changed?

Another view

Not all humanists lead to violence.

More from Albert Camus

  1. From the evening breeze to this hand on my shoulder, everything has its truth. Consciousness illuminates it by paying attention to it.

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  2. From the moment that eternal principles are put in doubt simultaneously with formal virtue, and when every value is discredited, reason will start to act witho…

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  3. From my first articles to my latest book I have written so much, and perhaps too much, only because I cannot keep from being drawn toward everyday life, toward…

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