These 4 Quotes Completely
Changed the History of the World
4 Famous People Initiated
the March of Civilisation With Powerful Words
These
are some famous and powerful quotes that changed world history. Some
of them were so powerful that World Wars took birth as they were uttered.
Others quelled storms that threatened to wipe out humanity. Still others
inspired a change of mindset, and kickstart social reform. These words have
transformed the lives of millions, and have etched new paths for the future generation.
1. Galileo Galilei
"Eppur si muove!" ("And yet it moves.")
Every once in a century, there comes along a
human being who brings about a revolution with just three words.
Italian physicist and mathematician Galileo
Galilei held a different view about the movement of the sun and the celestial
bodies with respect to the earth. But the church held the belief that the Sun
and other planetary bodies revolve around the Earth; a belief that made
God-fearing Christians adhere to the words of the Bible as interpreted by the
clergymen.
In the era of Inquisition, and a suspicious
wariness of Pagan beliefs, Galileo's views were considered heresy and he was
tried for spreading heretic views.
The punishment for heresy
was torture and death. Galileo risked his life to educate the church how wrong
they were. But the chauvinist views of the church were to remain, and Galileo's
head was to go. A 68 year old Galileo could hardly afford to lose his head
before the Inquisition for a mere fact. He therefore made a public confession
that he was wrong:
"I held and believed that
the sun is the centre of the universe and is immovable, and that the earth is
not the centre and is movable; willing, therefore, to remove from the minds of
your Eminences, and of every Catholic Christian, this vehement suspicion
rightfully entertained toward me, with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith, I
abjure, curse, and detest the said errors and heresies, and generally every
other error and sect contrary to Holy Church; and I swear that I will never
more in future say or assert anything verbally, or in writing, which may give
rise to a similar suspicion of me; but if I shall know any heretic, or anyone
suspected of heresy, that I will denounce him to this Holy Office, or to the
Inquisitor or Ordinary of the place where I may be; I swear, moreover, and
promise, that I will fulfil and observe fully, all the penances which have been
or shall be laid on me by this Holy Office."
Galileo Galilei, Abjuration, 22 Jun 1633
Galileo Galilei, Abjuration, 22 Jun 1633
The above quote, "Eppur si muove!" was
found in a Spanish painting. Whether Galileo actually said these words is
unknown, but it is believed that Galileo muttered these words under his breath,
after he was forced to recant his views.
The forced recantation that Galileo had to
endure is one of the most significant events in the history of the world. It
shows how free spirit and scientific thinking was always stifled by
conservative views of a powerful few. Humankind will remain indebted to this
fearless scientist, Galileo, who we regale the "father of modern
astronomy," the "father of modern physics", and "the father
of modern science."
2. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
"The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, unite!"
These words are a reminder of the rise of
communism under the leadership of two German intellectuals, Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels. The working class had suffered years of exploitation,
oppression, and discrimination in a capitalist Europe. Under the powerful rich
class that comprised of businessmen, traders, bankers, and industrialists, the
workers and laborers suffered inhuman living conditions. The simmering discord
was already growing in the underbelly of the poor. While capitalist countries
vied for more political power and economic freedom, Karl Marx and Friedrich
Engels believed that it was time the workers were given their due.
The slogan, "Workers of the world,
unite!" was a clarion call in the Communist Manifesto created by Marx
and Engels as a closing line of the manifesto. The
Communist Manifesto threatened to shake the foundation of capitalism in Europe
and bring about a new social order. This quote, which was a meek voice calling for change
became a deafening roar. Revolutions of 1848 were a direct result of the slogan.
The widespread revolution changed the face of France, Germany, Italy and
Austria. The Communist Manifesto is one of the most widely read secular
documents in the world. The proletariat governments were elbowed out of their
cushy positions of power and the new social class found its voice in the realm
of politics. This quote is a voice of a new social order, that brought in a
change of time.
3. Nelson Mandela
"I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
Nelson Mandela
was the David who took on the Goliath of the colonial rule. The African
National Congress, under the leadership of Mandela held various demonstrations,
civil disobedience campaigns, and other forms of non-violent protests against
apartheid. Nelson Mandela became the face of anti-apartheid movement. He
rallied the black community of South Africa to unite against the oppressive
regime of a white government. And he had to pay a heavy price for his
democratic views.
In April 1964, at the crowded courtroom of
Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela faced trial for charges of terrorism, and
sedition. On that historic day, Nelson Mandela made a speech to the audience
gathered in the courtroom. This quote, which was the closing line of the
speech, evoked a strong response from every corner of the world.
Mandela’s zealous speech had left the world
tongue-tied. For once, Mandela had shook the foundations of the aparthied
government. Mandela’s words continue to inspire millions of oppressed people of
South Africa to find a new lease of life. Mandela’s quote reverberates in
political and social circles as a symbol of a new awakening.
4. Ronald Reagan
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
Though this quote refers to the Berlin Wall that
divided East Germany and West Germany, this quote makes a symbolic reference to
the end of the Cold War.
When Reagan said this highly famous line in his
speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, he made
an earnest appeal to Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev in a bid to thaw the
frost between the two nations: East Germany and West Germany. Gorbachev, leader
of the Eastern block on the other hand, was chalking out a path of reform for
the Soviet Union through liberal measures such as perestroika. But East
Germany, which was governed by the Soviet Union, was stifled with poor economic
growth and restrictive freedom.
Reagan, the 40th US President at that time was
visiting West Berlin. His bold challenge did not see an immediate impact on the
Berlin Wall. However, the tectonic plates of the political landscape was
already shifting in Eastern Europe. 1989 was the year of historic significance.
That year, many things came crumbling down, including the Berlin Wall. The
Soviet Union, which was a powerful confederation of states, imploded to give
birth to several new independent nations. The Cold War that had threatened a world
wide nuclear arms race was finally over.
Mr. Reagan's speech may not have been the
immediate cause of the breakdown of the Berlin Wall.
But many political analysts believe that his words stirred an awakening amongst
East Berliners that eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today, many
nations have political conflict with their neighboring countries, but rarely do
we come across an event in history that is as significant as the fall of the
Berlin Wall.
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