Jean Jaures: biography, photos, quotes and aphorisms

Politician and speaker Jean Jaures became famous for his active struggle against colonialism and the militarism of European powers in the late XIX - early XX century. He was killed by a French nationalist on the eve of the outbreak of the First World War. The personality of this man and his death became symbols of pacifism throughout the world.

The views of the thinker

The future writer and thinker Jean Jaures was born on September 3, 1859 in the town of Castres, which is located in the province of Languedoc. He was the son of an entrepreneur with little capital. A child was studied in Paris, where he also obtained a higher education in a pedagogical institute. In 1881 he became a candidate of philosophical sciences.

The first few years of independent life, Jean Jaures worked as a teacher at the University of Toulouse. The philosopher's world view changed with the years. In his youth he was a supporter of idealism and did not recognize other concepts. However, over time, Jean Jaures bent to the views close to Marxism. Because of this, his figure became popular in the USSR. Soviet textbooks on philosophy necessarily included a chapter on this French thinker.

The deputy-socialist

Already in his youth, Jean Jaures became famous in the circles of the European intelligentsia. First his name was on hearing in the Paris salons, where they liked to discuss the secular news of the country. Soon Zhores proved himself to be a capable orator. He could be interested in his speeches any audience, even far from his views.

In the 80s throughout the country began to publish articles, authored by Jean Jaures. The biography of this man gives us to understand that this was a thinker who made an excellent secular career and did not like to lock himself up in his own office. From 1885 to 1898, with a short break for several years, he was a deputy. Social life attracted a young speaker.

The leader of the "left"

The Socialist circles of France received a new idol, which was Jean Jaures. Quotations of his speeches and articles were constantly featured in the programs of the "left" parties, who in various ways tried to get into power in European countries.

In the early 90's, Zhores also worked as deputy mayor of Toulouse. In this state post he directly encountered everyday problems of the population, including the working class. In 1892, strikes began in the province, the most active participants were coal miners. Zhores tried to help the protesters, including publicly defending their interests. As a result, the coal miners made him their candidate for parliament, where he again fell in 1893. The experience gained while working in Toulouse changed a lot in the views of Jaures. He became more "left". In parliament he became a member of the faction of independent socialists, who dissociated themselves from any parties.

Publicistic career

At this time, all the socialist forces of France, despite some mutual disagreements, needed a single leader. They became Jean Jaures. A brief biography of this policy is an example of a person who has not tarnished himself by renouncing his convictions. Owing to his talent as a speaker, Jaurès made many prominent socialists his supporters, who, in turn, recognized his leadership. Among them was Jules Guesde. Zhores's eloquence enabled him to enlist the support even in bourgeois circles, where socialists generally did not like him.

In the last years of the XIX century, France followed the loud trial in the case of Alfred Dreyfus. He was an officer of the General Staff of France, who was accused of spying for the benefit of the German Empire. He was supported by many public figures and writers: Zola, Clemenceau and Jean Jaures. To put it briefly, the socialist's point of view was not popular with his adherents. Among the "left" began a split. One of the parties to the conflict was headed by Jean Jaures. The speaker lost the next election in 1898. After leaving politics, he started journalism.

For several years, Jaurès has replaced several printed publications. In 1904, he founded the newspaper L'Humanité, which was popular throughout France. Also, the publicist became an active figure in the socialist international, supervising the cells of the movement in his country.

Pacifist

At this time in all of Europe the militaristic moods became popular. At the end of the XIX century on the continent appeared a young German Empire, united around Prussia. It happened after the war against France, in which the latter lost. At home, Zhores was in a revanchist mood. Many residents of the country wanted to return the provinces lost after the war with Prussia. They were Alsace and Lorraine - important industrial areas inhabited by both the French and Germans.

In addition, the government in Paris has for many years led an active colonial policy. Mostly it spread to Africa. This continent became a "pie", which was divided among themselves by powerful European powers: France, Great Britain, Germany, etc. At the same time, military alliances began to take shape, which were to play an important role in the approaching world war.

This policy had many opponents, including Jean Jaures. The aphorisms of the publicist often derided the militancy of the government in Paris. Zhores was increasingly known as a pacifist, not a socialist. In 1911 he took part in a special international congress held in Basel and was organized in order to work out solutions for ending the build-up of military hysteria in Europe.

On the eve of the war

In 1913, French President Raymond Poincaré proposed the adoption of a new law on increasing the duration of service in the army to three years. There was no war yet, but society understood that it was approaching, and only an excuse was needed. Zhores, in order to show the unpopularity of the state's decision, assembled in Paris an unprecedented pacifist rally in which 150,000 people took part.

In the spring of 1914, Zhores headed the Socialist faction, which went to the parliamentary elections. This association achieved great success, having received 102 chairs. Once in the parliament, the "left" immediately blocked the provision of a large loan to the authorities, which is necessary to increase military spending.

The murder of Zhores

In June, the successor to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Franz Ferdinand, was shot in Sarajevo. The killer was the Serbian nationalist and terrorist Gavrilo Princip. Austria declared an ultimatum to the neighboring country. Throughout July the European powers were preparing for an imminent war. These days, Jaures continued to speak publicly, urging him to give up bloodshed. In France, as elsewhere, on the contrary, nationalism became more popular, as well as militarism. The politician began to receive threats. July 31, 1914, he was killed by a shot of a fanatic. This happened on the eve of the declaration of war.

Quotes and aphorisms

Zhores became famous for his wit and eloquence. Here are his quotations, which became classics even during his lifetime:

• "A true patriot is one who speaks the truth even to his country."
• "We must take fire from the past, and not ashes."
• "Revolution is possible only where there is a conscience."