Buddhism Quote by Pankaj Mishra
““The recent explosions, from India to the United States, of ressentiment against writers and journalists as well as politicians, technocrats, businessmen and bankers reveal how Rousseau’s history of the human heart is still playing itself out among the disaffected. Those who perceive themselves as left or pushed behind by a selfish conspiratorial minority can be susceptible to political seducers from any point on the ideological spectrum, for they are not driven by material inequality alone. The Jacobins and the German Romantics may have been Rousseau’s most famous disciples, determined to create through retributive terror or economic and cultural nationalism the moral community neglected by Enlightenment philosophes.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Age of Discontent, Pankaj Mishra, 2022
Rousseau’s ideas about human resentment reappear as people feel left out, making them vulnerable to extremist appeals across the political spectrum.
In simple terms: People feeling ignored can be drawn to extreme ideas.
Key Takeaway
Address exclusion to reduce radicalization.
Themes
politics
resentment
radicalization
history
ideology
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
critical
historical
When to use this quote
- public debates
- online forums
- community workshops
- policy discussions
Key Concepts
Rousseau’s sentiment
social alienation
political manipulation
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your sense of being left out?
- How can societies foster inclusive narratives?
A Different Perspective
Complex causes beyond sentiment, like economic inequality, also drive extremism.
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