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"没有任何一份文明的文献不同时也是一份野蛮的文献"

Walter Benjamin

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Simplified Meaning:

Often, when we look at the impressive achievements of a society, we forget that these same achievements were sometimes built on suffering and cruelty. For example, when we admire the grand pyramids of Egypt, it's easy to overlook that they were constructed by thousands of laborers, many of whom were slaves and worked in harsh conditions. This idea can be applied today as well. When we enjoy modern conveniences like smartphones, we might not think about the difficult and often dangerous conditions factory workers in poorer countries endure to produce them. Understanding this helps us appreciate that progress often has hidden costs. It encourages us to be more aware and considerate of the true price of what we admire or use.

Related tags
Barbarism Civilization Critique Culture Duality History Humanity Paradox Philosophy Progress
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