Quotes from Tzvetan Todorov

La literatura utiliza las figuras retóricas como un arma en su antagonismo con el sentido puro, con la significación abstracta que han tomado las palabras en el discurso cotidiano.

Civilization is a horizon which we can approach, while barbarity is a background from which we seek to move away; neither condition can be entirely identified with particular beings. It consists of acts and attitudes that are barbarian or civilized, not individuals or peoples.

Sí señor, yo ya soy poquito cristiano, dijo él, porque ya saber yo un poquito mentir; otro día saber yo mucho mentir y seré yo mucho cristiano

Comment se réjouir de la victoire sur un ennemi hideux si pour le vaincre il a fallu devenir comme lui? ("La peur des barbares")

In Socrates' time, an orator was accustomed to ask his audience which genre or mode of expression was preferred: myth i.e., narrative-- or logical argumentation? In the age of the book, this decision cannot be left to the audience: the choice must be made in order for the book to exist and one merely imagines (or hopes for) an audience that will have given one answer rather than the other; one also tries to listen to the answer suggested or imposed by the subject itself.

Unlimited freedom kills freedom.

It seems that, once introduced into public life, evil easily perpetuates itself, whereas good is always difficult, rare, and fragile. And yet possible.

Toda obra, toda novela, narra a través de la trama de los acontecimientos la historia de su propia creación, su propia historia.

It is no longer necessary to resort to the power of a state in order to inflict heavy losses on your enemy, since a few highly motivated individuals with even a minimum of financial resources are enough."Hostile Forces" have completely changed their appearance.

When 'all is permitted' in the fight against terror, a counter-terrorist starts to become indistinguishable from the initial terrorist.

Nobody is entirely satisfied with the condition in which he or she lives: we often have the impression that these conditions are getting worse. Whose fault is this? It is tempting to seek a simple answer and an easily identifiable guilty person or group: it is this temptation that produces populist movements and parties.