Bistro!: Pierre vs. Antoine

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samedi août 14, 2004

Pierre vs. Antoine

Coubertin Pierre de Coubertin, the inventor of the Modern Olympics said "The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete" which is the often used quote in France "L'essentiel est de participer". Although this is probably his most known quote, he must have meant something else! While the French don't share the binary winner/looser paradigm, this is a looser's quote! While you may end up having this though after you loose, image having this as your global state of mind. Quotes have too much power and this one gives people reasons to hide. But as everyone else I fall for quotes, so here's a better one, close to Coubertin's, but better (IMHO) - "The notion of looking on at life has always been hateful to me. What am I if I am not a participant? In order to be, I must participate" --Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

( août 14 2004, 02:16:34 PM CEST ) Permalink Comments [1]

Comments:

Hum ... voil� une r�flexion qui m'intrigue. Je partage avec toi la facilit� abusive des citations mais en ce qui concerne celle de Coubertin, je ne la qualifierais pas de looser. Je pr�f�re supposer qu'en 1894, l'esprit de cette citation �tait de permettre aux nations naissantes de venir sans honte se mesurer aux puissances dont le colonialisme triomphant ne pouvait trouver de contestation qu'au travers de biais comme le sport. Ceux de 2004 sont-ils d'ailleurs si diff�rents ?

Posted by Neo on août 18, 2004 at 12:07 PM CEST #