Literary notes about RACE (AI summary)
The term “race” in literature reveals a striking versatility in its use. At times it denotes an ethnic or cultural lineage, as when authors reference the “Jewish race” to evoke historical or political connotations ([1]) or use it to underline inherited traits and collective identity in discussions of slavery, kinship, or cultural progress ([2], [3], [4]). In other contexts, “race” shifts to signify a competitive contest or a physical pursuit, whether it is the literal run of characters racing against time ([5], [6], [7]) or a metaphor for the dynamic struggle inherent in human endeavors. Moreover, ancient texts employ the term to link characters to mythological or genealogical traditions, situating them within storied lineages ([8], [9]). This duality underscores how context shapes “race” into either a symbol of collective identity or a marker of competition and progress.
- He tells us first of all that its object is to promote the study of the history of the Jewish race.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - The tradition of slavery dishonors the race, and the peculiarity of the race perpetuates the tradition of slavery.
— from Democracy in America — Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville - He who is an atheist is but a bad leader for the human race.” The former representative of the people made no reply.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - In which of its adventures would the human race, reviewing its whole experience, acknowledge a progress and a gain?
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana - And she started the race, though she hated doing it.
— from The Railway Children by E. Nesbit - XIX TO AN ATHLETE DYING YOUNG The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by,
— from A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman - However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out ‘The race is over!’
— from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll - O bull of the Kuru race, if thou regardest Krishna as the oldest in age, here is Vasudeva, and how can his son be said so in his presence?
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 - I do not behold in this assembly of kings even one ruler of men who hath not been vanquished in battle by the energy of this son of the Satwata race.
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1
