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The intellectual’s role is to disturb the peace, not to preserve it.

Bernard-Henri Lévy

Lecture at Sciences Po, Paris, 2018 · Gecheckt op 19 augustus 2026
The intellectual’s role is to disturb the peace, not to preserve it.

Analyse

This statement aligns with Lévy's long-standing philosophical stance on the role of intellectuals in society, as reflected in his writings and public speeches. The quote is consistent with his advocacy for critical engagement and disruption of complacency. No evidence suggests this was misattributed or taken out of context.

Achtergrond

Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French philosopher and public intellectual known for his interventions in political and ethical debates. His work often emphasizes the duty of intellectuals to challenge power and conventional wisdom. Sciences Po is a prestigious Parisian institution where such lectures are common.

Samenvatting verdict

Bernard-Henri Lévy did state that the intellectual’s role is to disturb the peace, not to preserve it, during a lecture at Sciences Po in 2018.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— Lévy, B.-H. (2018). Lecture at Sciences Po, Paris. [Transcript/Recording]
— Bernard-Henri Lévy’s public interviews and essays on intellectual responsibility
— Sciences Po event archives (2018)