Carl J. Burckhardt Quote: The Burden of Knowledge in Dark Times

„It is one of the most difficult things that can be imposed on a thinking man, to have to witness the course of a historical process among ignorant people, whose inevitable outcome he has long known with clarity. The time of the error of others, of false hopes, of blindly committed mistakes then becomes very long.“

Carl J. BurckhardtCarl J. Burckhardt on the challenge of witnessing history unfolding when its outcome is already clear.
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Carl J. Burckhardt was a Swiss diplomat and historian.

This quote vividly describes the agony of recognizing historical developments with wisdom while others are still in the dark.


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Carl J. Burckhardt quote about the difficulty of witnessing historical processes among ignorant people

Carl Jacob Burckhardt (1891–1974) was a Swiss diplomat, historian, and president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He was known for his international engagements and his deep understanding of European history and politics.

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