History Quotes | Beyond Motive 26/42

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History Quotes

"Mexico was conquered more by manipulation of myth and archetype."

"Mexico was conquered more by manipulation of myth and archetype."

Norman Spinrad, American Author

History, Manipulation, Myth

27

"Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America."

"Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America."

James Joyce, Irish Novelist

History, America, Columbus, Posterity

27

"During periods of root expansion things have always looked as confused and topsy-turvy and purposeless as they do now. The whole Renaissance is supposed to have resulted from the topsy-turvy feeling caused by Columbus' discovery of a new world. It just shook people up. The topsy-turviness of that time is recorded everywhere. There was nothing in the flat-earth views of the Old and New Testaments that predicted it. Yet people couldn't deny it. The only way they could assimilate it was to abandon the entire medieval outlook and enter into a new expansion of reason."

"During periods of root expansion things have always looked as confused and topsy-turvy and purposeless as they do now. The whole Renaissance is supposed to have resulted from the topsy-turvy feeling caused by Columbus' discovery of a new world. It just shook people up. The topsy-turviness of that time is recorded everywhere. There was nothing in the flat-earth views of the Old and New Testaments that predicted it. Yet people couldn't deny it. The only way they could assimilate it was to abandon the entire medieval outlook and enter into a new expansion of reason."

Robert M. Pirsig, American Philosopher

History, Change, Reason, Discovery, Expansion

27

"The word Chivalry is derived from the French cheval, a horse."

"The word Chivalry is derived from the French cheval, a horse."

Thomas Bulfinch, American Writer

History, Chivalry, Word

27

"The easy assumption that we have remembered the most important people and events and have preserved the most valuable evidence is immediately trumped by our inability to know what we have forgotten."

"The easy assumption that we have remembered the most important people and events and have preserved the most valuable evidence is immediately trumped by our inability to know what we have forgotten."

Wendell Berry, American Poet

History, Memory, Knowledge, Awareness

27

"Helplessness induces hopelessness, and history attests that loss of hope and not loss of lives is what decides the issue of war."

"Helplessness induces hopelessness, and history attests that loss of hope and not loss of lives is what decides the issue of war."

B. H. Liddell Hart, British Historian

History, War, Hope, Loss

27

"All of this got me thinking about the history of the westward expansion, and got me to wondering how the exploration of the Solar System would be changed if there were an indigenous presence out there."

"All of this got me thinking about the history of the westward expansion, and got me to wondering how the exploration of the Solar System would be changed if there were an indigenous presence out there."

Sarah Zettel, American Author

History, Exploration, Thinking

27

"Judas became the spokesman of all those who through the centuries would protest the ornamentation of the Christian cult and would feel that, when the best of gold and jewels were given to the God Who made them, there was some slight made to the poor - not because they were interested in the poor, but because they were envious of that wealth."

"Judas became the spokesman of all those who through the centuries would protest the ornamentation of the Christian cult and would feel that, when the best of gold and jewels were given to the God Who made them, there was some slight made to the poor - not because they were interested in the poor, but because they were envious of that wealth."

Fulton J. Sheen, American Clergyman

History, Envy, Religion, Truth, Justice

27

"After voluntary exertions on the part of our people to which the history of the world furnishes no parallel, is the old root of bitterness still to remain in the ground, to sprout and bear fruit in the future as it has borne fruit in the past?"

"After voluntary exertions on the part of our people to which the history of the world furnishes no parallel, is the old root of bitterness still to remain in the ground, to sprout and bear fruit in the future as it has borne fruit in the past?"

Robert Dale Owen, Scottish Politician

History, People, Bitterness, Future

27

"In fact, there are more homeowners today than ever before in the history of our Nation and more minority homeowners than ever before in the history of our Nation."

"In fact, there are more homeowners today than ever before in the history of our Nation and more minority homeowners than ever before in the history of our Nation."

Todd Tiahrt, American Politician

History, Fact, Minority, Nation

27

"But it is a law of life and development in history where two national civilizations meet they fight for ascendancy."

"But it is a law of life and development in history where two national civilizations meet they fight for ascendancy."

Bernhard von Bulow, German Statesman

History, Life, Development, Fight

27

"The early American arrived at a land of which he knew nothing."

"The early American arrived at a land of which he knew nothing."

Francis Parker Yockey, American Writer

History, Land, Nothing

27

"But if anyone supposes that there was no commercial fraud in the Middle Ages, let him study the commercial legislation of England for that period, and his mind will be satisfied, if he has a mind to be satisfied and not only a fancy to run away with him."

"But if anyone supposes that there was no commercial fraud in the Middle Ages, let him study the commercial legislation of England for that period, and his mind will be satisfied, if he has a mind to be satisfied and not only a fancy to run away with him."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

History, Englfancy, Fraud, Legislation, Mind

27

"And Twin Peaks, the Film is the craziest film in the history of cinema. I have no idea what happened, I have no idea what I saw, all I know is that I left the theater floating six feet above the ground."

"And Twin Peaks, the Film is the craziest film in the history of cinema. I have no idea what happened, I have no idea what I saw, all I know is that I left the theater floating six feet above the ground."

Jacques Rivette, French Director

History, Idea, Cinema, Feet

27

"There's a preoccupation with memory and the operation of memory and a rather rapacious interest in history."

"There's a preoccupation with memory and the operation of memory and a rather rapacious interest in history."

Penelope Lively, English Author

History, Interest, Memory

27

"We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those signposts of history that point in the direction which they themselves already favour."

"We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those signposts of history that point in the direction which they themselves already favour."

Douglas Hurd, British Politician

History, Direction, Politicians

27

"In our brief national history we have shot four of our presidents, worried five of them to death, impeached one and hounded another out of office. And when all else fails, we hold an election and assassinate their character."

"In our brief national history we have shot four of our presidents, worried five of them to death, impeached one and hounded another out of office. And when all else fails, we hold an election and assassinate their character."

P. J. O'Rourke, American Comedian

History, Death, Character, Office

27

"There is a noble and a base side to every history."

"There is a noble and a base side to every history."

Thomas Wentworth, English Politician

27

"There remains, however, the hope, at least in Russia, that, as sometimes happens in history, the memory of lost alternatives will one day inspire efforts to regain them."

"There remains, however, the hope, at least in Russia, that, as sometimes happens in history, the memory of lost alternatives will one day inspire efforts to regain them."

Stephen Cohen, American Educator

History, Hope, Day, Memory

27

"Wars have a way reinventing people. And making too many things disappear.-Sonia."

"Wars have a way reinventing people. And making too many things disappear.-Sonia."

Neal Shusterman, American Author

History, War, Change, Transformation, Loss

27

"Without philosophy, history is always for me dead and dumb."

"Without philosophy, history is always for me dead and dumb."

Ferdinand Christian Baur, German Theologian

History, Dumb, Philosophy

27

"America may be slow to rise to a challenge. But our history has shown that once we make up our minds to really do something, nothing can stand in our way."

"America may be slow to rise to a challenge. But our history has shown that once we make up our minds to really do something, nothing can stand in our way."

Carrie P. Meek, American Politician

History, America, Challenge, May

27

"Social history might be defined negatively as the history of a people with the politics left out."

"Social history might be defined negatively as the history of a people with the politics left out."

G. M. Trevelyan, English Historian

History, Politics, People

26

"It is doubtless one of Aristotle's great services that he conceived so clearly the truth that literature is a thing that grows and has a history."

"It is doubtless one of Aristotle's great services that he conceived so clearly the truth that literature is a thing that grows and has a history."

Gilbert Murray, British Diplomat

History, Truth, Literature

26

"Today, as we look back on the history of our nation and take note of how far we have come as a people, we are reminded that we owe a great debt to those who fought valiantly for the freedoms that we easily take for granted."

"Today, as we look back on the history of our nation and take note of how far we have come as a people, we are reminded that we owe a great debt to those who fought valiantly for the freedoms that we easily take for granted."

Sam Brownback, American Politician

History, People, Debt, Nation

26

"In known history, nobody has had such capacity for altering the universe than the people of the United States of America. And nobody has gone about it in such an aggressive way."

"In known history, nobody has had such capacity for altering the universe than the people of the United States of America. And nobody has gone about it in such an aggressive way."

Alan Watts, English Philosopher

History, People, America, States

26

"The meetings of the legislature at Springfield then first brought together that splendid group of young men of genius whose phenomenal careers and distinguished services have given Illinois fame in the history of the nation."

"The meetings of the legislature at Springfield then first brought together that splendid group of young men of genius whose phenomenal careers and distinguished services have given Illinois fame in the history of the nation."

John George Nicolay, American Writer

History, Men, Genius, Careers

26

"The point of that is, if you look at Walgreen's history, they've always been pioneers in the application of technology. They're the only drugstore chain that I know to have their own satellite."

"The point of that is, if you look at Walgreen's history, they've always been pioneers in the application of technology. They're the only drugstore chain that I know to have their own satellite."

James Collins, American Athlete

History, Technology

26

"The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated in any other manner."

"The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated in any other manner."

Albert J. Nock, American Philosopher

History, Positive, Conquest, State

26

"Students of American history will recall that the important place where work gets done in the legislative body, almost without exception, is in the committees, more so than on the floor although sometimes more attention is paid to the floor."

"Students of American history will recall that the important place where work gets done in the legislative body, almost without exception, is in the committees, more so than on the floor although sometimes more attention is paid to the floor."

Paul Sarbanes, American Politician

History, Work, Attention

26

"I'm going down in history with Star Trek. It's a great feeling."

"I'm going down in history with Star Trek. It's a great feeling."

Persis Khambatta, Indian Actress

History, Feeling

26

"If you review the commercial history, you will discover anyone who controls oriental trade will get hold of global wealth."

"If you review the commercial history, you will discover anyone who controls oriental trade will get hold of global wealth."

James J. Hill, American Businessman

History, Wealth, Trade, Will

26

"History has always been a series of pendulum swings, but the individual doesn't have to get caught in that."

"History has always been a series of pendulum swings, but the individual doesn't have to get caught in that."

Robert Johnson, American Psychologist

26

"I think politics can no longer be assigned to parliamentary activity and it probably never could be. But politics with a small p and the history of trade union movement really interests me."

"I think politics can no longer be assigned to parliamentary activity and it probably never could be. But politics with a small p and the history of trade union movement really interests me."

Saffron Burrows, English Actress

History, Politics, Trade

26

"American time has stretched around the world. It has become the dominant tempo of modern history, especially of the history of Europe."

"American time has stretched around the world. It has become the dominant tempo of modern history, especially of the history of Europe."

Harold Rosenberg, American Writer

History, Time, Europe

26

"I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows."

"I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows."

Leon Redbone, American Musician

26

"I don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone, are guilty of the war. Oh no, the little man is just as guilty, otherwise the peoples of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There's in people simply an urge to destroy, an urge to kill, to murder and rage, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, great wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated, and grown will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again."

"I don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone, are guilty of the war. Oh no, the little man is just as guilty, otherwise the peoples of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There's in people simply an urge to destroy, an urge to kill, to murder and rage, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, great wars will be waged, everything that has been built up, cultivated, and grown will be destroyed and disfigured, after which mankind will have to begin all over again."

Anne Frank, German Writer

History, Humanity, War, Truth, Wisdom

26

"But the advice was not taken - Johnstone did emigrate to Canada, and did mortgage his pension; and I fear - though I failed to trace his after history - that he suffered in consequence."

"But the advice was not taken - Johnstone did emigrate to Canada, and did mortgage his pension; and I fear - though I failed to trace his after history - that he suffered in consequence."

Hugh Miller, Scottish Scientist

History, Fear, Advice, Canada

26

"Conventionally, one looks at history as something of the past. But after Einstein, who knows what is in the past and what is in the present?"

"Conventionally, one looks at history as something of the past. But after Einstein, who knows what is in the past and what is in the present?"

Roland Joffe, English Director

History, Past, Present

26

"Kakimi chertyami oni viigrali holodnuyu voinu?'This translates roughly to: 'How the hell did these people win the Cold War?"

"Kakimi chertyami oni viigrali holodnuyu voinu?'This translates roughly to: 'How the hell did these people win the Cold War?"

Dave Barry, American Journalist

History, Curiosity, Truth, Observation

26

"History provides no precise guidelines."

"History provides no precise guidelines."

Douglas Hurd, British Politician

26

"I have thoroughly gone through the subject of the Incarnation; and if it served you, could at any time give you the history from the beginning of the controversies on this subject, and of its present form."

"I have thoroughly gone through the subject of the Incarnation; and if it served you, could at any time give you the history from the beginning of the controversies on this subject, and of its present form."

Edward Irving, Scottish Clergyman

History, Time, Beginning, Present

26

"Sam. Brianna is dead.He just stared at her. Then, in a soft, almost childlike voice, he said, "Breeze?"She stopped Gaia. It looked like Brianna almost killed her. The second time she . . . But this time . . .There were tears in Sam's eyes. "My God. How is Dekka?"Like you'd expect. Destroyed. Roger's dead, too, so Edilio . . . It's been really bad, Sam. Really bad. It's like we're in a war."We are."

"Sam. Brianna is dead.He just stared at her. Then, in a soft, almost childlike voice, he said, "Breeze?"She stopped Gaia. It looked like Brianna almost killed her. The second time she . . . But this time . . .There were tears in Sam's eyes. "My God. How is Dekka?"Like you'd expect. Destroyed. Roger's dead, too, so Edilio . . . It's been really bad, Sam. Really bad. It's like we're in a war."We are."

Michael Grant, American Author

History, War, Observation, Truth, Emotion

26

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms."

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms."

Robert A. Heinlein, American Writer

History, Violence, Force, Truth

26

"I believe that history might be, and ought to be, taught in a new fashion so as to make the meaning of it as a process of evolution intelligible to the young."

"I believe that history might be, and ought to be, taught in a new fashion so as to make the meaning of it as a process of evolution intelligible to the young."

Thomas Huxley, English Scientist

History, Evolution, Fashion, Meaning

26

"Grace can and does have a history."

"Grace can and does have a history."

Karl Rahner, German Theologian

26

"I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music."

"I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music."

Smokey Robinson, American Musician

History, Music, Being

26

"History has the relation to truth that theology has to religion - ie., none to speak of."

"History has the relation to truth that theology has to religion - ie., none to speak of."

Robert A. Heinlein, American Writer

History, Truth, Religion, Philosophy

26

"The most important thing I learned as a foreign correspondent in about 80 countries is that it takes a very shallow knowledge of history to think that there are solutions to most problems."

"The most important thing I learned as a foreign correspondent in about 80 countries is that it takes a very shallow knowledge of history to think that there are solutions to most problems."

Robert D. Kaplan, American Journalist

History, Knowledge, Countries, Problems

26

"I'm interested in the way in which the past affects the present and I think that if we understand a good deal more about history, we automatically understand a great more about contemporary life."

"I'm interested in the way in which the past affects the present and I think that if we understand a good deal more about history, we automatically understand a great more about contemporary life."

Toni Morrison, American Novelist

History, Past, Present, Understanding

26

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