"Better to die standing up than to live on your knees": the meaning of the phrase and relevance

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:53

At a time when problems were solved with fists, swords and cannons, each of the parties to the conflict fought for what they considered right and what they truly believed. But in order to lead the masses, spread your ideas and make others believe in your values, you need to use a much more powerful weapon than guns and daggers. This weapon is the word. Now the speeches of the great governors and generally recognized leaders are disassembled into quotes about courage and courage, and one of them is as follows: “It is better to die standing than to live on your knees.” Whether it is the leader of the country, the ideological inspirer of some direction, or just a person responsible for the results of the activities of a small group of people, he must have the skills to choose the right words in order to fill others with a sense of duty, responsibility or honor.

“Better to die standing than to live on your knees” – who said and under what conditions?

Political systems are constantly replacing one another, transforming and improving. And a significant role in their formation is played by organizations and parties where such a tool as the word is used by true masters of oratory. In 1936, in one of her phenomenal speeches, the Spanish communist Dolores Ibarruri said: “It is better to die standing than to live on your knees.”

Since that time, this famous phrase has become a catchphrase for many people and has raised questions in the minds of many thinkers about what meanings it can acquire and what meaning it carries. Having the talent to generate bright, unquenchable emotions in the hearts of people, Dolores Ibarruri used words whose relevance will not be lost after centuries and which, again and again, will push us to important, sometimes fateful decisions.

Who is Dolores Ibarruri?

Dolores Ibarruri, thanks to her principles, determination and steadfastness, has become one of those whose name is displayed on many pages of history. As a member of the Spanish international movement, she became part of the republican movement during the years of the civil war, and then - a figure in the opposition to Franco's dictatorship.

Contribution to history

Spain, and later the whole world, Dolores Ibarruri was remembered as Pasionaria. She chose this pseudonym for herself and fully justified it. Translated "Pasionaria"means "fiery", "passionate". She was like that, and that's what she said. In a word, she made people fight, rise from their knees and follow what the people should rightfully have. “It is better to die standing than to live on your knees” - the author of this phrase again and again awakened the forces that had been lurking in oppressed hearts for a long time. Dolores Ibarruri went down in history as a woman who, despite her fragility, forged with an iron word and steel actions a new life not only for Spain, but also for the Soviet Union.

Prophecy of Pasionaria

Dolores Ibarruri lived in the USSR for a long time, where her son Ruben joined the Red Army and fought for this country until his last breath. In the Battle of Stalingrad, as part of the 35th Guards Rifle Division, he assumed the duties of a detachment commander and, with the determination of a mother, inspired them to continue the fight. The Nazis retreated, abandoned their guns and rifles, and meanwhile the detachment lost sight of its commander. He was found "buried" in a pile of bodies, almost lifeless, and sent to the hospital. For a week and a half, doctors fought for his life, but they failed to save Ruben.

When Dolores Ibarruri learned of her son's death, she spoke the words that became a prophecy. They sounded like this: "When you defeat fascism and the Red Banner will fly over Berlin, I will know that this banner has a drop of my Ruben's blood." And these words came true. In May 1945, Germany signed the act of unconditional surrender of the German armed forces."Fiery" Dolores knew that her son's blood was not shed in vain.

The meaning of the phrase "Better to die standing than to live on your knees"

What is freedom and what does it mean for each of us, for the whole country, for the world? How could a few words make a crowd go and fight for their own? What does the famous phrase “Better to die standing than to live on your knees” imply?

These words were spoken at a time when many problems were solved by wars, but have not lost their relevance and significance today. Issues of personal values or values common to the whole people must be defended as part of oneself, one's culture and history. If there is faith in something, then there will always be strength. Now, as in all times of the existence of society, injustice is encountered at every step, the interests of some completely stop the process of realizing the interests of others, the strong decide the life of the weak, and the world, as a result, becomes indifferent. And it’s true, it’s better to die standing than to live on your knees, because infringements, restrictions, whether they are in the form of the forcible imprisonment of entire peoples or a dishonest and unfair attitude to the values and rights of another, must be exterminated. What is the point of living on your knees, indulging other people's interests, completely forgetting about personal ones, if you can stand on your feet, breathe deeply, face injustice and fight it resolutely?!

Similar quotes about bravery and courage

Courage, boldness, determination - these concepts were valued in every period of history and on every continent. To themused by leaders in their statements, used by citizens, maintaining faith in themselves, and used by historians, characterizing true heroes.

"A worthy death is better than a shameful life" - these words belong to the famous Roman historian Tacitus. They were used by commanders of different countries and generations to inspire their people. A similar phrase can be seen in the work of Katenin Pavel Aleksandrovich, which sounds like "No, death is better than living as slaves." A similar thought lies in the words “The highest wickedness, believe me, pay with shame for life,” which Juvenal said. Shota Rustavelli and his phrase “Better death, but death with glory than inglorious days of disgrace” or a line from Vladimir Vysotsky’s song for the film “The only road is “We will not die a painful life, we will rather come to life with a certain death!” once again prove that courage and courage are the highest qualities of a person that open up the whole world to him.