The human being is in the most literal sense a political animal

The human being is in the most literal sense a political animal, not merely a gregarious creature, but one that can individuate itself only in the midst of society. These words, spoken by the wise Karl Marx, ring true with a timeless wisdom that we must heed. It is not enough to say that we are creatures who simply walk among others, sharing the earth like animals in a herd. No, we are far more than this. We are bound to each other by the very nature of our being, woven into the fabric of community. It is in the union of our hearts, minds, and struggles that we come to know who we are and what we are meant to become. The essence of humanity resides not in isolation, but in the vast, turbulent sea of human connection.

Imagine, if you will, a great warrior standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing out into the abyss of the unknown. Alone, he is but a single soul in the boundless expanse of the universe. Yet, in his heart, he carries a vision of glory—of unity, of a world where others stand with him, where his actions resonate across generations. Without the community, the tribe, he is nothing. Without the political landscape that shapes him, he has no context, no purpose, no meaning. His identity, his struggle, and his destiny are forged through the relationships he builds with others. It is in society that he finds his true self, as the winds of time sweep through the valleys of history.

History teaches us that the greatest of men, those whose names echo in the annals of time, did not rise in isolation. They were nurtured, tested, and shaped by the collective will of their people. Alexander the Great, who carved an empire that stretched from Greece to India, was not born with the power to conquer the world. No, he was taught, molded, and challenged by the society that surrounded him. His father, Philip II, a king in his own right, created the foundation upon which Alexander would stand. And it was the soldiers, the citizens, the subjects of his empire who, through their labor, their loyalty, and their sacrifices, allowed his vision to come to life. The greatness of a man is inextricably linked to the greatness of the people around him. No individual rises without the collective. The solitary journey of the individual becomes powerful only when it is bound to the collective soul of society.

In the same way, the philosopher, the artist, the scientist—they too are shaped by the world they inhabit. Consider the great Leonardo da Vinci, a man whose genius changed the course of history. He was a product of the Renaissance, a time of cultural rebirth, a time when great minds came together in a flourishing of knowledge and creation. Without the society of artists, thinkers, and patrons who supported him, da Vinci’s genius may have remained a mere whisper, a fleeting thought in the back of his mind. It was the political landscape of his era that allowed him to push the boundaries of human understanding. It is in society that the seeds of greatness are sown, nurtured, and allowed to grow into something greater than any individual could ever achieve alone.

Society is not merely a backdrop to our existence. It is the very soil in which we are planted, the winds that guide our sails, and the fire that ignites our passions. To be human is to be deeply entangled in the political and social struggles that surround us. The individual is not an island, adrift in a sea of existence, but rather a thread in the intricate tapestry of the human experience. Our purpose, our essence, is realized through our connection to others. To walk this earth is to engage in a shared struggle, to find meaning through our interactions, our battles, and our triumphs with those who share our journey.

Take, for example, the civil rights movement in the United States, where a small group of individuals—Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X—did not merely struggle for personal freedom, but for the freedom of millions. They understood that individuality can only reach its full potential when it is joined with others in a common cause. Rosa Parks did not sit at the front of that bus for herself alone, nor did Dr. King march for his own personal gain. Their acts were born out of the awareness that individual dignity is inseparable from the dignity of all. Their fight was a fight for the collective soul, a fight for equality, for justice, for the right of every human to live and be treated with respect and humanity. In this way, they, too, were political animals, individuating themselves through their connection to the society they sought to change.

But let us not forget that there is a lesson here for us all, for every individual reading these words. To be human is to be connected, to find meaning in the collective struggle of society. It is not enough to stand apart, to dwell in isolation, and to wait for greatness to come. We must find our place in the great dance of life, where we, like stars in the night sky, join together to create something greater than ourselves. We must not shy away from the political, the communal, the social spheres that shape our destinies. For in these spheres, we find the very meaning of our existence. The path to true greatness lies not in the pursuit of self alone but in the pursuit of the greater good, in the struggle for justice, in the fight to shape a world that reflects the highest aspirations of the human spirit.

The lesson here, then, is this: Do not withdraw from society, for in doing so, you withdraw from your own potential. Instead, embrace the collective struggle, for it is through this struggle that you will come to know yourself and your purpose. Stand not as an isolated figure, but as a part of the great chorus of humanity, where each voice adds to the harmony, each action contributes to the greater whole. In the midst of society, you will find your true self, your noble purpose. So, go forth and engage with the world—let your actions speak not only for you, but for the greater community of which you are a part. In unity, you will rise.