"No, men and women of the Irish race, we shall not fight for England. We shall fight for the destruction of the British Empire and the construction of an Irish republic."

History

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Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of History as articulated by James Larkin. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on History provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

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About James Larkin

James Larkin, sometimes known as Jim Larkin or Big Jim, was an Irish republican, socialist and trade union leader. He was one of the founders of the Irish Labour Party along with James Connolly and William O'Brien, and later the founder of the Irish Worker League, as well as the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU) and the Workers' Union of Ireland. Along with Connolly and Jack White, he was also a founder of the Irish Citizen Army. Larkin was a leading figure in the Syndicalist movement.

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More by James Larkin

"There must be freedom for all to live, to think, to worship, no book, no avenue must be closed."

— James Larkin
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"The question of religion was a matter for each individual's conscience, and in a great many cases was the outcome of birth or residence in a certain geographical area."

— James Larkin
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More about History

"In the long term we can hope that religion will change the nature of man and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this respect. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars."

— Richard M. Nixon
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"If I didn't have a front-row seat on history, it was at least a seat on the aisle."

— Dan Rather
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"The history of philosophy is to a great extent that of a certain clash of human temperaments."

— William James
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