Bertrand De Jouvenel
Bertrand De Jouvenel
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Bertrand de Jouvenel was a French philosopher, politician, and writer. His full name is Bertrand de Jouvenel des Ursins. He was often referred to as simply Bertrand de Jouvenel.
Birth and Death Dates
Bertrand de Jouvenel was born on June 26, 1903. Unfortunately, he passed away on September 1, 1987.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Bertrand de Jouvenel held French nationality. His profession encompassed multiple fields including politics, philosophy, and writing.
Early Life and Background
De Jouvenel was born into a family of nobility in France. Growing up amidst the tumultuous early 20th century, his life experiences had a profound impact on shaping his perspective. Bertrand de Jouvenel's background influenced his interests and views, which he would later incorporate into his work.
Major Accomplishments
Bertrand de Jouvenel made significant contributions to various fields. His expertise in politics and philosophy led him to become a prominent figure in French intellectual circles. He was a close associate of philosopher Simone Weil and developed friendships with notable thinkers of the time, including René Maunier and René Cassin.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Bertrand de Jouvenel's most notable works include 'The Pure Theory of Politics', published in 1957. This work examined the nature of power and government from a philosophical standpoint. Another significant contribution was his book 'Sovereignty' (1945), which explored the concept of state authority.
Impact and Legacy
Bertrand de Jouvenel's impact on intellectual discourse cannot be overstated. His writings have been widely read and studied by scholars across multiple disciplines, including politics, philosophy, and sociology. He has also had an influence on policy-making in France during his lifetime, particularly with regards to government reform.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Bertrand de Jouvenel's legacy stems from the depth of his analysis and the breadth of his expertise. His work transcends specific time periods, remaining relevant today due to its timeless insights into power dynamics, state authority, and governance.
Quotes by Bertrand De Jouvenel
Bertrand De Jouvenel's insights on:
The entire stock of relationships which suited in war – militiae – was regarded as inadmissible and improper in peace – domi. We have the measure of how right the Romans were in this respect in the experience of the intellectual and moral impoverishment brought about by total mobilisation.
No century has been more concerned than ours to do away with war: it has proved signally unsuccessful. All too little attention has been given to the phenomenon that internal politics have become increasingly more warlike.
A people among whom custom is altogether sovereign endures the despotism of the dead.
The intellectual’s hostility to the businessman presents no mystery, as the two have, by function, wholly different standards. While the businessman’s motto is the customer is always right, the intellectual’s task is to preserve his perceived standards against the weight of popular opinion.
The more one considers the matter, the clearer it becomes that redistribution is in effect far less a redistribution of free income from the richer to the poorer, as we imagined, than a redistribution of power from the individual to the State.
Democracy, then, in the centralizing, pattern-making, absolutist shape which we have given to it is, it is clear, the time of tyranny’s incubation.
As every advance of Power is useful for war, so war is useful for the advance of power; war is like a sheep-dog harrying the laggard Powers to catch up their smarter fellows in the totalitarian race.
