--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I gave up trying to establish where…" description: "\"“I gave up trying to establish where progress lay, and where revolution, or to see the plot -- as Amparo's [Brazilian] comrades expressed it -- of capi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/umberto-eco-313_beauty_i-gave-up-trying-to-establish-where-prog_807144.jpg" --- # I gave up trying to establish where progress lay, and… ![“I gave up trying to establish where progress lay, and where revolution, or to see the plot -- as Amparo's [Brazilian] comrades expressed it -- of capitalism. How could I continue to think like a European once I learned that the hopes of the far left were kept alive by a Nordeste bishop suspected…” quote by Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/umberto-eco-313_beauty_i-gave-up-trying-to-establish-where-prog_807144.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/umberto-eco-313_beauty_i-gave-up-trying-to-establish-where-prog_807144.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/umberto-eco-313_beauty_i-gave-up-trying-to-establish-where-prog_807144.jpg) > ““I gave up trying to establish where progress lay, and where revolution, or to see the plot -- as Amparo's \[Brazilian\] comrades expressed it -- of capitalism. How could I continue to think like a European once I learned that the hopes of the far left were kept alive by a Nordeste bishop suspected of having harbored Nazi sympathies in his youth but who now faithfully and fearlessly held high the torch of revolt, upsetting the wary Vatican and the barracudas of Wall Street, and joyfully inflaming the atheism of the proletarian mystics won over by the tender yet menacing banner of a Beautiful Lady who, pierced by seven sorrows, gazed down on the sufferings of her people?”” [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator wrestles with ideological contradictions, questioning European perspectives amid complex political and religious entanglements. **In simple terms:** He doubts European views when faced with tangled politics. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and seek nuanced understanding. Themes politics religion identity ideology history Mood analytical critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - political activism - interfaith dialogue - historical analysis Key Concepts postmodernism critical theory Questions to Reflect On - How do personal biases shape political analysis? - What role does history play in shaping ideology? A Different Perspective Complex narratives can obscure clear conclusions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism Proletarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism-proletarian-6160879/) [Beautiful lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-lady/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Brazilian Comrades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brazilian-comrades-6160880/) [Comrades Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comrades-expressed-6160881/) [Nazi Sympathies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nazi-sympathies-6160883/) [Proletarian Mystics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proletarian-mystics-6160882/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/) ## Related quotes > [“Knowledge without wisdom is like a beautiful lady without morals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/knowledge-without-wisdom-is-like-a-beautiful-lady-without-morals/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“How could I explain to a beautiful lady in a silk dress that when I picked up her baby girl, I felt that lady's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-e-turner/how-could-i-explain-to-a-beautiful-lady-in-a-silk-dress-that-when-i/) [Nancy E. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-e-turner/) > [“And the beautiful lady, still with her beautiful wasp’s waist, the very beautiful lady whose charms buzz around our childish dreams, will not turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/and-the-beautiful-lady-still-with-her-beautiful-wasp-s-waist-the-very/) [Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/) > [Beauty is not in the face; Beauty is a light in the something you do daily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-murdock/beauty-is-not-in-the-face-beauty-is-a-light-in-the-something-you-do/) [Mike Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-murdock/) > [Not only beautiful lady but still single too. ^^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auzynie/not-only-beautiful-lady-but-still-single-too/) [Auzynie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auzynie/) > [“I had flashbacks of being in the peep-show booth hours earlier, watching the Puerto Rican woman dance naked. I couldn't believe I'd enjoyed looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-starr/i-had-flashbacks-of-being-in-the-peep-show-booth-hours-earlier/) [Jason Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-starr/) > [Lithium is like a beautiful lady, very much sought and pursued, especially in Bolivia. There is data indicating Bolivia has the largest reserves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/lithium-is-like-a-beautiful-lady-very-much-sought-and-pursued/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [When I first went on Strictly' I had a little phase at the beginning, you know, when I was sat next to this really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-ballas/when-i-first-went-on-strictly-i-had-a-little-phase-at-the-beginning/) [Shirley Ballas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-ballas/) > [Once upon a perfect night, unclouded and still, there came the face of a pale and beautiful lady. The tresses of her hair reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/once-upon-a-perfect-night-unclouded-and-still-there-came-the-face-of/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [“The Prince shall think you the most beautiful lady he's ever seen." Alex replied wryly, "Let's hope that's not the case, Eliza. History teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/the-prince-shall-think-you-the-most-beautiful-lady-he-s-ever-seen/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [“The Beautiful Lady told me that her instructions would always serve good purposes,” Cindy said. “She said some of the good purposes wouldn’t be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafter-bailey/the-beautiful-lady-told-me-that-her-instructions-would-always-serve/) [Shafter Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafter-bailey/) > [A beautiful lady, A warm caring heart, She's the one that made me, She's the most important part. She loves me unconditionally, She guides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma/a-beautiful-lady-a-warm-caring-heart-she-s-the-one-that-made-me-she-s/) [Emma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma/) > [How beautiful she is, Our Lady of compassion! How dear! How utterly unselfish! How filled with joy for Him - and us - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/how-beautiful-she-is-our-lady-of-compassion-how-dear-how-utterly/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [“It’s a fact I recently learned while I was looking for these,” the beautiful lady said as she extended a pair of sparkling glass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/it-s-a-fact-i-recently-learned-while-i-was-looking-for-these-the/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [To my baby girl/boy, I love you to death and know you will be the cutest thing ever! I hope to be a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/to-my-baby-girl-boy-i-love-you-to-death-and-know-you-will-be-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) ## More by Umberto Eco > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Followers of the occult believe in only what they already know, and in those things that confirm what they have already learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/followers-of-the-occult-believe-in-only-what-they-already-know-and-in/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“This has nothing to do with realism (even if it explains also realism). A completely real world can be constructed, in which asses fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/this-has-nothing-to-do-with-realism-even-if-it-explains-also-realism/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“…there’s nothing in this world that demands more caution than the truth. To tell the truth is like leeching one’s own heart...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-s-nothing-in-this-world-that-demands-more-caution-than-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The book is like the spoon, scissors, the hammer, the wheel. Once invented, it cannot be improved. You cannot make a spoon that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-book-is-like-the-spoon-scissors-the-hammer-the-wheel-once/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“No algorithm exists for the metaphor, nor can a metaphor be produced by means of a computer’s precise instructions, no matter what the volume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/no-algorithm-exists-for-the-metaphor-nor-can-a-metaphor-be-produced/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [With all of its defects, the global market makes war less likely, even between the USA and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/with-all-of-its-defects-the-global-market-makes-war-less-likely-even/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Any fact becomes important when it's connected to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/any-fact-becomes-important-when-it-s-connected-to-another/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [American coffee can be a pale solution served at a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade in plastic thermos cups, usually obligatory in railroad stations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/american-coffee-can-be-a-pale-solution-served-at-a-temperature-of-100/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Listening doesn't mean trying to understand. Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [They say that a cat, if it falls from a window and hits its nose, can lose its sense of smell and then, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/they-say-that-a-cat-if-it-falls-from-a-window-and-hits-its-nose-can/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are magic moments, involving great physical fatigue and intense motor excitement, that produce visions of people known in the past. As I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-magic-moments-involving-great-physical-fatigue-and-intense/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [All poets write bad poetry. Bad poets publish them, good poets burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/all-poets-write-bad-poetry-bad-poets-publish-them-good-poets-burn-them/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-four-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-cretins-fools-morons-and/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) [Explore all 600 Umberto Eco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## More Beautiful lady quotes > [“Knowledge without wisdom is like a beautiful lady without morals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/knowledge-without-wisdom-is-like-a-beautiful-lady-without-morals/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“It’s a fact I recently learned while I was looking for these,” the beautiful lady said as she extended a pair of sparkling glass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/it-s-a-fact-i-recently-learned-while-i-was-looking-for-these-the/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [How beautiful she is, Our Lady of compassion! How dear! How utterly unselfish! How filled with joy for Him - and us - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/how-beautiful-she-is-our-lady-of-compassion-how-dear-how-utterly/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [A beautiful lady, A warm caring heart, She's the one that made me, She's the most important part. She loves me unconditionally, She guides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma/a-beautiful-lady-a-warm-caring-heart-she-s-the-one-that-made-me-she-s/) [Emma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma/) > [“The Beautiful Lady told me that her instructions would always serve good purposes,” Cindy said. “She said some of the good purposes wouldn’t be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafter-bailey/the-beautiful-lady-told-me-that-her-instructions-would-always-serve/) [Shafter Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafter-bailey/) > [“The Prince shall think you the most beautiful lady he's ever seen." Alex replied wryly, "Let's hope that's not the case, Eliza. History teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/the-prince-shall-think-you-the-most-beautiful-lady-he-s-ever-seen/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [Once upon a perfect night, unclouded and still, there came the face of a pale and beautiful lady. The tresses of her hair reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/once-upon-a-perfect-night-unclouded-and-still-there-came-the-face-of/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [When I first went on Strictly' I had a little phase at the beginning, you know, when I was sat next to this really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-ballas/when-i-first-went-on-strictly-i-had-a-little-phase-at-the-beginning/) [Shirley Ballas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-ballas/) > [Lithium is like a beautiful lady, very much sought and pursued, especially in Bolivia. There is data indicating Bolivia has the largest reserves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/lithium-is-like-a-beautiful-lady-very-much-sought-and-pursued/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [“I had flashbacks of being in the peep-show booth hours earlier, watching the Puerto Rican woman dance naked. I couldn't believe I'd enjoyed looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-starr/i-had-flashbacks-of-being-in-the-peep-show-booth-hours-earlier/) [Jason Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-starr/) > [Not only beautiful lady but still single too. ^^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auzynie/not-only-beautiful-lady-but-still-single-too/) [Auzynie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auzynie/) > [Beauty is not in the face; Beauty is a light in the something you do daily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-murdock/beauty-is-not-in-the-face-beauty-is-a-light-in-the-something-you-do/) [Mike Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-murdock/) > [“And the beautiful lady, still with her beautiful wasp’s waist, the very beautiful lady whose charms buzz around our childish dreams, will not turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/and-the-beautiful-lady-still-with-her-beautiful-wasp-s-waist-the-very/) [Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/) > [“How could I explain to a beautiful lady in a silk dress that when I picked up her baby girl, I felt that lady's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-e-turner/how-could-i-explain-to-a-beautiful-lady-in-a-silk-dress-that-when-i/) [Nancy E. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-e-turner/) > [To my baby girl/boy, I love you to death and know you will be the cutest thing ever! I hope to be a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/to-my-baby-girl-boy-i-love-you-to-death-and-know-you-will-be-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) [Browse all 40 Beautiful lady quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-lady/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I gave up trying to establish where progress lay, and where revolution, or to see the plot -- as Amparo's [Brazilian] comrades expressed it -- of capitalism. 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