Today's world, as we all know, is faced with multiple threats. From whichever angle I look at this menace, I always come to the conclusion that salvation can only come through a profound awakening of man to his own personal responsibility, which is at the same time a global responsibility. Thus, the only way to save our world, as I see it, lies in a democracy that recalls its ancient Greek roots: democracy based on an integral human personality personally answering for the fate of the community.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Global salvation requires personal responsibility rooted in democratic ideals.
- In plain terms
- Saving the world starts with each person taking responsibility.
- What can you take from it?
- Personal responsibility is key to global democracy.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you take personal responsibility?
- What does true democracy require?
Another view
Individual responsibility alone may not fix systemic issues.
More from Vaclav Havel
An ordinary human being, with a personal conscience, personally answering for something to somebody and personally and directly taking responsibility, seems to…
Permalink to quote #87 I think there are good reasons for suggesting that the modern age has ended. Today, many things indicate that we are going thorough a transitional period, when…
Permalink to quote #89 I have had direct experience of this myself. Often, what the press wrote, or did not write, about a remark I made somewhere proved to be of a far greater conse…
Permalink to quote #86
Related quotes
As free citizens in a political democracy, we have a responsibility to be interested and involved in the affairs of the human community, be it at the local or …
Paul WellstonePaul Wellstone quote #3 [Minding one's own business] is a cheap and second rate virtue, much extolled in certain circles, over estimated by the world at large; in constant use as an e…
Nellie McClungNellie McClung quote #4 We have a decision to make every hour of every day, and that is whether to represent the sword or the shield. Democracy now.
Amy GoodmanAmy Goodman quote #6