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Historical thought was to deliver man from subjection to a divinity; but this liberation demanded of him the most absolute subjection to historical evolution. The man takes refuge in the permanence of the party in the same way that he formerly prostrated himself before the altar. That is why the era which dares to claim that it is the most rebellious that has ever existed only offers a choice of various types of conformity. The real passion of the twentieth century is servitude.

Albert Camus#141

FreedomPoliticsIdeologyModernityConformity

About this quote

What does it mean?
Modern liberation replaced religious submission with political conformity. True rebellion is rare; most people follow ideologies blindly.
In plain terms
People traded worship of God for obedience to parties; claiming rebellion while conforming to ideologies.
What can you take from it?
Question political conformity even when it claims to be rebellious.

Where it applies

  • political movements
  • mass society
  • critical thinking

Putting it to work

  • critique ideologies
  • avoid blind obedience
  • think independently

Questions to consider

  • Are you following an ideology blindly?
  • What does true rebellion look like?

Another view

Ideologies can provide necessary structure and community.

More from Albert Camus

  1. Historical reasoning is not a type of reasoning that, within the framework of its own functions, can pass judgment on the world. While pretending to judge it, …

    Permalink to quote #140
  2. History without a value to transfigure it, is controlled by the law of expediency.

    Permalink to quote #142
  3. Heraclitus, the discoverer of the constant change of things, nevertheless set a limit to this perpetual process. This limit was symbolized by Nemesis, the godd…

    Permalink to quote #139

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