Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 12/30

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Quotes by Historian

"Four men are missing; R., Sorel and two emigrants. They set out this morning after buffalo, and have not yet made their appearance; whether killed or lost, we cannot tell."

"Four men are missing; R., Sorel and two emigrants. They set out this morning after buffalo, and have not yet made their appearance; whether killed or lost, we cannot tell."

Francis Parkman, American Historian

Man, Men, Appearance

14

"There is also an epidemic of infertility in this country. There are more women who have put off child-bearing in favor of their professional lives. For them, the only way they are going to have a family is to adopt from China."

"There is also an epidemic of infertility in this country. There are more women who have put off child-bearing in favor of their professional lives. For them, the only way they are going to have a family is to adopt from China."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

Family, Women, Country

14

"It is grievous to read the papers in most respects, I agree. More and more I skim the headlines only, for one can be sure what is carried beneath them quite automatically, if one has long been a reader of the press journalism."

"It is grievous to read the papers in most respects, I agree. More and more I skim the headlines only, for one can be sure what is carried beneath them quite automatically, if one has long been a reader of the press journalism."

Mary Ritter Beard, American Historian

Journalism, Press

14

"Oftentimes during the period in which conventions really did business, you had situations where the delegates were divided and you would have ballot after ballot before there was a final nominee."

"Oftentimes during the period in which conventions really did business, you had situations where the delegates were divided and you would have ballot after ballot before there was a final nominee."

Michael Beschloss, American Historian

Business, Histoorian

14

"Property is not the sacred right. When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. When a poor man becomes destitute, it is a moral evil, teeming with consequences and injurious to society and morality."

"Property is not the sacred right. When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. When a poor man becomes destitute, it is a moral evil, teeming with consequences and injurious to society and morality."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Society, Morality, Consequences, Evil

14

"The proper study of mankind is woman."

"The proper study of mankind is woman."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Mankind, Study, Woman

14

"The crusade against Communism was even more imaginary than the specter of Communism."

"The crusade against Communism was even more imaginary than the specter of Communism."

A. J. P. Taylor, British Historian

14

"Civil strife is as much a greater evil than a concerted war effort as war itself is worse than peace."

"Civil strife is as much a greater evil than a concerted war effort as war itself is worse than peace."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Peace, War, Effort, Evil

14

"But I like not these great success of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods."

"But I like not these great success of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

14

"By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy."

"By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy."

George Bancroft, American Historian

Envy, Glory, Respect

13

"Maybe I will write a memoir, perhaps I'll do some essays, or maybe I will write a mystery story."

"Maybe I will write a memoir, perhaps I'll do some essays, or maybe I will write a mystery story."

David Herbert Donald, American Historian

Politics, Mystery, Will

13

"This above all makes history useful and desirable; it unfolds before our eyes a glorious record of exemplary actions."

"This above all makes history useful and desirable; it unfolds before our eyes a glorious record of exemplary actions."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

History, Actions, Eyes

13

"By a series of violent shocks, the nations in succession have struggled to shake off the Past, to reverse the action of Time and the verdict of success, and to rescue the world from the reign of the dead."

"By a series of violent shocks, the nations in succession have struggled to shake off the Past, to reverse the action of Time and the verdict of success, and to rescue the world from the reign of the dead."

John Acton, English Historian

Time, Success, Action, Nations

13

"Between truth and the search for it, I choose the second."

"Between truth and the search for it, I choose the second."

Bernard Berenson, American Historian

13

"American is the first democratic nation-state."

"American is the first democratic nation-state."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

American, First, Nation

13

"In soft regions are born soft men."

"In soft regions are born soft men."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

13

"Good men who exercise power are really the most fascinating of all people."

"Good men who exercise power are really the most fascinating of all people."

John Keegan, English Historian

Man, Men, Power, People, Exercise

13

"It is in the very nature of things human that every act that has once made its appearance and has been recorded in the history of mankind stays with mankind as a potentiality long after its actuality has become a thing of the past."

"It is in the very nature of things human that every act that has once made its appearance and has been recorded in the history of mankind stays with mankind as a potentiality long after its actuality has become a thing of the past."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

History, Nature, Act, Appearance

13

"With the question of the effect of a poem, the topic of investigation shifts from that of textual autonomy to textual reception - to the issue of what we actually look for or find in reading a poem."

"With the question of the effect of a poem, the topic of investigation shifts from that of textual autonomy to textual reception - to the issue of what we actually look for or find in reading a poem."

Thomas Harrison, American Historian

Effect, Investigation, Question, Reading

13

"Psychoanalysts believe that the only 'normal' people are those who cause no trouble either to themselves or anyone else."

"Psychoanalysts believe that the only 'normal' people are those who cause no trouble either to themselves or anyone else."

A. J. P. Taylor, British Historian

People, Cause, Trouble

13

"As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility."

"As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

God, Nature, Choice, Freedom

13

"In a balanced organization, working towards a common objective, there is success."

"In a balanced organization, working towards a common objective, there is success."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

13

"Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative death of this country."

"Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative death of this country."

Robert Hewison, British Historian

Death, Education, Truth, Growth

13

"A life which does not go into action is a failure."

"A life which does not go into action is a failure."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

Life, Action, Failure

13

"I love all sides of the work but that doesn't mean it isn't hard."

"I love all sides of the work but that doesn't mean it isn't hard."

David McCullough, American Historian

13

"Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts."

"Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Power, Energy, Facts

13

"Thus the whole country was broken into many shreds and patches of sovereignty."

"Thus the whole country was broken into many shreds and patches of sovereignty."

John Lothrop Motley, American Historian

Nation, Country

13

"Books are those faithful mirrors that reflect to our mind the minds of sages and heroes."

"Books are those faithful mirrors that reflect to our mind the minds of sages and heroes."

Edward Gibbon, English Historian

Books, Heroes, Mind

13

"First of all, there's no mention of political parties in the Constitution, so you begin American history with not only no political conventions but also no parties."

"First of all, there's no mention of political parties in the Constitution, so you begin American history with not only no political conventions but also no parties."

Michael Beschloss, American Historian

History, Constitution, First

13

"Imperialism was genuinely popular among Athenians who would expect to share in its profits, even if only indirectly and collectively, and not to have to bear its burdens."

"Imperialism was genuinely popular among Athenians who would expect to share in its profits, even if only indirectly and collectively, and not to have to bear its burdens."

J. M. Roberts, British Historian

13

"Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible."

"Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible."

Sallust, Roman Historian

13

"Here society is reduced to its original elements, the whole fabric of art and conventionality is struck rudely to pieces, and men find themselves suddenly brought back to the wants and resources of their original natures."

"Here society is reduced to its original elements, the whole fabric of art and conventionality is struck rudely to pieces, and men find themselves suddenly brought back to the wants and resources of their original natures."

Francis Parkman, American Historian

Art, Men, Society, Conventionality

13

"The Holocaust was the most evil crime ever committed."

"The Holocaust was the most evil crime ever committed."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

13

"History creates comprehensibility primarily by arranging facts meaningfully and only in a very limited sense by establishing strict causal connections."

"History creates comprehensibility primarily by arranging facts meaningfully and only in a very limited sense by establishing strict causal connections."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

History, Facts, Sense

13

"The present moment is nice but it does not last. Living in it is like waiting in a junction town for the morning limited; the junction may be interesting but some day you will have to leave it and you do not know where the limited will take you."

"The present moment is nice but it does not last. Living in it is like waiting in a junction town for the morning limited; the junction may be interesting but some day you will have to leave it and you do not know where the limited will take you."

Bruce Catton, American Historian

Progress, Day, Living, May, Present

13

"I'm drawn particularly to stories that evolve out of the character of the protagonist."

"I'm drawn particularly to stories that evolve out of the character of the protagonist."

David McCullough, American Historian

13

"It was a rich and gorgeous sunset - an American sunset; and the ruddy glow of the sky was reflected from some extensive pools of water among the shadowy copses in the meadow below."

"It was a rich and gorgeous sunset - an American sunset; and the ruddy glow of the sky was reflected from some extensive pools of water among the shadowy copses in the meadow below."

Francis Parkman, American Historian

Nostalgia, Sky, Sunset, Water

13

"People are so helpful. People will stop what they're doing to show you something, to walk with you through a section of the town, or explain how a suspension bridge really works."

"People are so helpful. People will stop what they're doing to show you something, to walk with you through a section of the town, or explain how a suspension bridge really works."

David McCullough, American Historian

13

"He was what I often think is a dangerous thing for a statesman to be - a student of history; and like most of those who study history, he learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones."

"He was what I often think is a dangerous thing for a statesman to be - a student of history; and like most of those who study history, he learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones."

A. J. P. Taylor, British Historian

History, Mistakes, Past, Study

13

"The endurance of the inequalities of life by the poor is the marvel of human society."

"The endurance of the inequalities of life by the poor is the marvel of human society."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Life, Society, Endurance, Poor

13

"Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from."

"Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Love, Men, Fame

13

"Contention is inseparable from creating knowledge. It is not contention we should try to avoid, but discourses that attempt to suppress contention."

"Contention is inseparable from creating knowledge. It is not contention we should try to avoid, but discourses that attempt to suppress contention."

Joyce Appleby, American Historian

Knowledge, Contention

13

"It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured."

"It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Nature, Hate, Humannature

13

"Man ceased to be an ape, vanquished the ape, on the day the first book was written."

"Man ceased to be an ape, vanquished the ape, on the day the first book was written."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

Literature, Day, First, Man

13

"No man likes to have his intelligence or good faith questioned, especially if he has doubts about it himself."

"No man likes to have his intelligence or good faith questioned, especially if he has doubts about it himself."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Faith, Intelligence, Man

13

"Still the question remains of what actually speaks in a poem, if not subjectivity as historically constructed."

"Still the question remains of what actually speaks in a poem, if not subjectivity as historically constructed."

Thomas Harrison, American Historian

13

"All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity."

"All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Friendship, Anger, Hatred, Pity

13

"Life has taught me that it is not for our faults that we are disliked and even hated, but for our qualities."

"Life has taught me that it is not for our faults that we are disliked and even hated, but for our qualities."

Bernard Berenson, American Historian

13

"One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say."

"One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say."

Will Durant, American Historian

History, Nothing

13

"We have to keep in mind that it's not just about the numbers of people who died; it's also the manner which many of these victims met their deaths."

"We have to keep in mind that it's not just about the numbers of people who died; it's also the manner which many of these victims met their deaths."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

People, Mind, Numbers, Victims

13

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