“It is the privilege of posterity to set matters right between those antagonists who, by their rivalry for greatness, divided a whole age.”
What this quote means
Addison evokes the role of posterity in re-evaluating historical figures. Contemporary rivalries, often fueled by ambition and ego, can divide an era, but time allows judgment with hindsight and impartiality. This quote resonates with our tendency to take sides in current conflicts, forgetting that history will judge us differently. It invites us to humility, to recognize that our quarrels may be less important than they seem, and that only future generations can decide wisely.
How to apply it daily
In a conflict, step back by imagining how future generations will judge the situation. Seek a broader, more balanced perspective.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.”Create visual
“The past is never dead. It's not even past.”Create visual
“And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.”Create visual
“The past is not dead; it is not even past.”Create visual
“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”Create visual
“No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.”Create visual
More quotes by Joseph Addison
“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”Create visual
“Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.”Create visual
“Love is a second life; it grows into the soul, warms every vein, and beats in every pulse.”Create visual
“The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”Create visual