Cities Quote by Robert Hass
![“[Osip] Mandelstam, who wasn't a political thinker, loved the idea of the city-state. One of the emblems in his poetry of the politics he imagined, over and against the universalizing politics of [Carl] Marx, was the medieval city of Novgorod, which had in its center a public well where the water…” quote by Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/deb/robert-hass-3548_cities_osip-mandelstam-who-wasn-t-a-political-t_380078.jpg)
“[Osip] Mandelstam, who wasn't a political thinker, loved the idea of the city-state. One of the emblems in his poetry of the politics he imagined, over and against the universalizing politics of [Carl] Marx, was the medieval city of Novgorod, which had in its center a public well where the water was free to everyone. That became for him a figure of justice.”
About This Quote
Mandelstam admired the city-state as a symbol of communal justice, contrasting it with universalizing politics.
In simple terms: City-states represent shared justice against overarching ideologies.
Key Takeaway
Value community-based governance and shared resources.
Themes
justice
community
politics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- local governance
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
political philosophy
historical models
social equity
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern institutions embody city-state justice?
- How can communal resources be protected today?
A Different Perspective
May idealize past structures without addressing modern complexities.
![“The poem that comes closest to saying what I think is the one in Human Wishes called "Rusia en 1931." This poem is about [Osip] Mandelstam, who was a great poet and an anti-Stalinist, and [Cesar] Vallejo, who was a great poet and a Stalinist.” quote by Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3f6/robert-hass-3548_closest_the-poem-that-comes-closest-to-saying-wh_2774432.jpg)
![“[Osip] Mandelstam was killed by Stalinist forces.” quote by Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01b/robert-hass-3548_force_osip-mandelstam-was-killed-by-stalinist_3124518.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
