--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There comes a time in history when the…" description: "\"“There comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished with death. The schoolteacher is well aware of this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/albert-camus-47_death_there-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-m_2813890.jpg" --- # There comes a time in history when the man who dares to… ![“There comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished with death. The schoolteacher is well aware of this. And the question is not one of knowing what punishment or reward attends the making of this calculation. The question is that of knowing whether…” quote by Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/albert-camus-47_death_there-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-m_2813890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/albert-camus-47_death_there-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-m_2813890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/albert-camus-47_death_there-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-m_2813890.jpg) > ““There comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished with death. The schoolteacher is well aware of this. And the question is not one of knowing what punishment or reward attends the making of this calculation. The question is that of knowing whether two and two do make four.”” [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that truth can be dangerous under oppressive regimes, where even basic facts may be punished. **In simple terms:** Truth can be punished by authoritarian power. Key Takeaway Speak truth despite risk. Themes authority truth oppression courage Mood defiant reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - journalism - academic research - whistleblowing - civil disobedience Key Concepts totalitarianism intellectual honesty political risk Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you willing to defend? - How do you navigate truth under pressure? A Different Perspective The quote assumes a binary truth, ignoring nuanced perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Existentialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existentialism/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [But again and again there comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/but-again-and-again-there-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-man-who/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Again and again there comes a time in history when the man who dares to say that two and two make four is punished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/again-and-again-there-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-man-who-dares/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“There always comes a time in history when the person who dares to say that two and two make four is punished by death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-always-comes-a-time-in-history-when-the-person-who-dares-to-say/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“But we do not congratulate a schoolmaster on teaching that two and two make four, though we may, perhaps, congratulate him on having chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/but-we-do-not-congratulate-a-schoolmaster-on-teaching-that-two-and/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“How can all the small insects simultaneously know, without a brain, without knowing anything, that today they should visit this meadow, tomorrow that one?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-fosnes-hansen/how-can-all-the-small-insects-simultaneously-know-without-a-brain/) [Erik Fosnes Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-fosnes-hansen/) > [A good education teaches you how to ask a question. 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