It seems we cannot manage without an enemy. The figure of the enemy cannot be abolished from the processes of civilization. The need is second nature even to a man of peace. In his case the image of the enemy is simply shifted from a human object to a natural or social force [or vice versa] that in some way threatens us and has to be defeated, whether it be [terrorism, communism], capitalistic exploitation, environmental pollution, or even third world hunger. But though these are "virtuous" cases, even hatred of injustice, as Brecht reminds us, "makes the brow grow stern."

1932 -

Umberto Eco, OMRI (Italian: [umËˆbÉ›rto ËˆÉ›ko]; born 5 January 1932) is an Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist. He is best known for his groundbreaking 1980 historical mystery novel Il nome della rosa (The Name of the Rose), an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory. He has since written further novels, including Il pendolo di Foucault (Foucault's Pendulum) and L'isola del giorno prima (The Island of the Day Before). His most recent novel Il cimitero di Praga (The Prague Cemetery), released in 2010, was a best-seller.

Eco has also written academic texts, children's books and many essays. He is founder of the Dipartimento di Comunicazione (Department of Media Studies) at the University of the Republic of San Marino, President of the Scuola Superiore di Studi Umanistici (Graduate School for the Study of the Humanities), University of Bologna, member of the Accademia dei Lincei (since November 2010), and an Honorary Fellow of Kellogg College, University of Oxford.

Author Information from Wikipedia

Country: Italy

Type: Prose
Context: Book
Context Details: Quote from page 17.
Uttered: 2011
Cited By: Taylor Morgeson

Inventing the Enemy