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About this quote

What does it mean?
Political freedom, national peace, and science are gifts that demand the blood of those who sacrifice themselves for destiny.
In plain terms
Freedom, peace and and cost lives.
What can you take from it?
Great achievements often require sacrifice.

Where it applies

  • war
  • revolution
  • scientific breakthroughs

Putting it to work

  • honor the fallen
  • preserve liberty

Questions to consider

  • What sacrifices are justified for progress?
  • Can peace be achieved without bloodshed?

Another view

It can glorify violence as necessary.

More from Honore de Balzac

  1. Nos plus cruels ennemis sont nos proches... Les rois n'ont ni freres, ni fils, ni mere.

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  2. L'epicier est entraine vers son commerce par une force attractive egale a la force de repulsion qui en eloigne les artistes. On n'a pas assez etudie les forces…

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  3. Les idees devorent les siecles comme les hommes sont devores par leurs passions. Quand l'homme sera gueri, l'humanite se guerira peut-etre.

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