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Literary notes about men (AI summary)

The term “men” in literature is employed as a multifaceted symbol representing not only individual human beings but also the broader spectrum of human character, ambition, and morality. In certain works, “men” are portrayed philosophically as driven by purpose and reason, as seen in reflections on human striving for goals and harmony [1, 2]. In epic narratives and poetry, the word extends to evoke images of both noble and tragic figures—vulnerable in the face of fate yet heroic in their endeavors [3, 4]. At the same time, “men” can convey criticism of moral shortcomings or societal flaws, as authors denounce cowardice [5] or emphasize the cost of conflict and ambition [6, 7]. Across genres, the versatile use of “men” encapsulates a rich tapestry of ethical dilemmas, social roles, and historical narratives, underscoring its enduring role as a vessel for exploring the human condition.
  1. 59. Consider what men are; whom they seek to please; what they expect to gain, and how they go about to compass their ends.
    — from The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus by Emperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius
  2. Proof.—For whatsoever causes men to live together in harmony also causes them to live according to reason (IV. xxxv.), and is therefore (IV. xxvi.
    — from Ethics by Benedictus de Spinoza
  3. Men and maidens, faint and famished, Perished in the cold and darkness, From the absence of the sunshine, From the absence of the moonlight.
    — from Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete
  4. No wonder that the gods delight To give such luck in every fight To Hakon's men—for he restores Their temples on our Norway shores.
    — from Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway by Snorri Sturluson
  5. " "Then I hold all Nottingham men to be cowards," said the Sheriff.
    — from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
  6. This effort of Lee's cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their killing, wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.
    — from Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete by Ulysses S. Grant
  7. Men fell away from their ranks, talking, and in great c
    — from Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete by William T. Sherman

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