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[-] janonymous@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

"By a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak." - Umberto Eco

[-] intensely_human@lemm.ee -3 points 1 year ago

“If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize”

— Voltaire

[-] SCB@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

"Children with cancer rule the world "

  • Voltaire
[-] janonymous@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't think that holds true quite as much today as it did back when Voltaire said it. He was calling out authoritarian structures like the christian church if I remember correctly. While certainly still true in totalitarian systems like dictatorships, it's a somewhat different situation in democracies for example. In a democracy you are generally allowed to criticize anyone. However, powerful entities like big corporations and the very rich might still abuse the system to sue you into oblivion.

Also this quote gets misused quite often by people who do not understand the difference between hate speech and criticism and by people who think being called out and criticized for their words is the same as being "not allowed to criticized" or silenced.

this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
1085 points (91.8% liked)

Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted, clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

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