Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 13/35

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Quotes by Historian

"If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves."

"If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves."

Howard Zinn, American Historian

Society, Power, Ideas, Control

36

"In America, Jefferson noted with approval, women knew their place."

"In America, Jefferson noted with approval, women knew their place."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Woman, Women, America, Approval

36

"The equation of religion with belief is rather recent."

"The equation of religion with belief is rather recent."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

Religion, Belief

36

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

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

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

36

"In order to go on living one must try to escape the death involved in perfectionism."

"In order to go on living one must try to escape the death involved in perfectionism."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Death, Living, Order

36

"In its function, the power to punish is not essentially different from that of curing or educating."

"In its function, the power to punish is not essentially different from that of curing or educating."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

36

"We can't put up a protectionist dam on our own against the neo-liberal world market either. However, we can try, together with our European partners, to maintain the social character of Europe as much as possible."

"We can't put up a protectionist dam on our own against the neo-liberal world market either. However, we can try, together with our European partners, to maintain the social character of Europe as much as possible."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Character, Europe, World

36

"Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible."

"Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Future, Promises

36

"All things will be clear and distinct to the man who does not hurry; haste is blind and improvident."

"All things will be clear and distinct to the man who does not hurry; haste is blind and improvident."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

Life, Blind, Haste, Man, Will

36

"Economic growth may one day turn out to be a curse rather than a good, and under no conditions can it either lead into freedom or constitute a proof for its existence."

"Economic growth may one day turn out to be a curse rather than a good, and under no conditions can it either lead into freedom or constitute a proof for its existence."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Growth, Day, Existence, Freedom

36

"Whatever else I do before finally I go to my grave, I hope it will not be looking after young people."

"Whatever else I do before finally I go to my grave, I hope it will not be looking after young people."

John Thorn, American Historian

People, Hope, Grave, Will

36

"He too serves a certain purpose who only stands and cheers."

"He too serves a certain purpose who only stands and cheers."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

36

"Religiously the Empire was pluralistic and marked by a search for a faith which would be satisfying intellectually and ethically and would give assurance of immortality."

"Religiously the Empire was pluralistic and marked by a search for a faith which would be satisfying intellectually and ethically and would give assurance of immortality."

Kenneth Scott Latourette, American Historian

Faith, Immortality

36

"Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book."

"Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

36

"I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the purity of Dickens. I thanked Heaven for the purity of a greater than Dickens - Thackeray himself."

"I heard Thackeray thank Heaven for the purity of Dickens. I thanked Heaven for the purity of a greater than Dickens - Thackeray himself."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

36

"If the white man wants to hold on to it, let him do so; but the Negro, so far as he is able, should develop and carry out a program of his own."

"If the white man wants to hold on to it, let him do so; but the Negro, so far as he is able, should develop and carry out a program of his own."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

36

"As to the Indians, the guiding principle was, promise them anything just so long as they get out of the way."

"As to the Indians, the guiding principle was, promise them anything just so long as they get out of the way."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Indians, Promise

36

"Fear is the parent of cruelty."

"Fear is the parent of cruelty."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

36

"Racism is always there underneath, but usually it is exploited in these times of economic crisis, and it's hard to find out when one slides into another."

"Racism is always there underneath, but usually it is exploited in these times of economic crisis, and it's hard to find out when one slides into another."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

36

"Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor."

"Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

36

"As another has well said, to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching."

"As another has well said, to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

Change, Struggle, Teaching

36

"Traditionalists will have to master techniques of sustained activism formerly monopolized by the left."

"Traditionalists will have to master techniques of sustained activism formerly monopolized by the left."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

Politics, Activism, Will

36

"The thought of' the inferiority of the Negro is drilled into him in almost every class he enters and in almost every book he studies."

"The thought of' the inferiority of the Negro is drilled into him in almost every class he enters and in almost every book he studies."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

Thought, Inferiority, Class

36

"The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil."

"The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Truth, People, Evil

36

"The science of politics is the one science that is deposited by the streams of history, like the grains of gold in the sand of a river; and the knowledge of the past, the record of truths revealed by experience, is eminently practical, as an instrument of action and a power that goes to making the future."

"The science of politics is the one science that is deposited by the streams of history, like the grains of gold in the sand of a river; and the knowledge of the past, the record of truths revealed by experience, is eminently practical, as an instrument of action and a power that goes to making the future."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Politics, Power, Science, Experience

36

"Most film directors do not come up with their own subjects or write their own screenplays."

"Most film directors do not come up with their own subjects or write their own screenplays."

Thomas Harrison, American Historian

36

"Before the thunderous clamor of political debate or war set loose in the world, love insisted on its promise for the possibility of human unity: between men and women, between blacks and whites, northerners and southerners, haves and have-have-nots, self and self."

"Before the thunderous clamor of political debate or war set loose in the world, love insisted on its promise for the possibility of human unity: between men and women, between blacks and whites, northerners and southerners, haves and have-have-nots, self and self."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Relationship, Love, Unity, Humanity, Hope

36

"The greatest luxury of riches is that they enable you to escape so much good advice."

"The greatest luxury of riches is that they enable you to escape so much good advice."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

36

"The real regrets in life are the risks you didn't take."

"The real regrets in life are the risks you didn't take."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Reflection, Regret, Truth, Wisdom, Observation

36

"If you cannot do great things in life, make sure you do the small things in a great way."

"If you cannot do great things in life, make sure you do the small things in a great way."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Excellence, Truth, Observation, Wisdom

36

"The effect of power and publicity on all men is the aggravation of self, a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim's sympathies."

"The effect of power and publicity on all men is the aggravation of self, a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim's sympathies."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Man, Men, Power, Effect, Killing

36

"Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith."

"Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Faith, Government, Profession, Public

36

"My next book is also set in the eighteenth century. It's about the Revolution, with the focus on the year 1776. It's about Washington and the army and the war. It's the nadir, the low point of the United States of America."

"My next book is also set in the eighteenth century. It's about the Revolution, with the focus on the year 1776. It's about Washington and the army and the war. It's the nadir, the low point of the United States of America."

David McCullough, American Historian

War, America, Army, Focus

36

"We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them within fifteen hundred years."

"We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them within fifteen hundred years."

Kenneth Scott Latourette, American Historian

Appearance, Years

36

"A respectful woman is a righteous woman."

"A respectful woman is a righteous woman."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Womanhood, Respect, Woman, Righteousness, Character

36

"Temple was a man of the world amongst men of letters, a man of letters amongst men of the world."

"Temple was a man of the world amongst men of letters, a man of letters amongst men of the world."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

Man, Men, Temple, Letters

36

"It is always good men who do the most harm in the world."

"It is always good men who do the most harm in the world."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Man, Men, Harm, World

36

"To be a slaveholder meant one had to regard the African American as inferior in every way."

"To be a slaveholder meant one had to regard the African American as inferior in every way."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

History, African

36

"In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order."

"In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order."

Will Durant, American Historian

Age, Discovery, Freedom, Liberty

36

"The number one secret of being a successful writer is this: marry an English major."

"The number one secret of being a successful writer is this: marry an English major."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Success, Successful, Being, English, Writer

36

"Folly is a child of power."

"Folly is a child of power."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Folly, Power, Corruption, Warning

36

"Things forbidden have a secret charm."

"Things forbidden have a secret charm."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Temptation, Charm, Forbidden

36

"The novelist must ground his work in faithful study of human nature."

"The novelist must ground his work in faithful study of human nature."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

Nature, Work, Humannature, Study

36

"Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back."

"Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

36

"No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right."

"No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Man, Right, Wrongs

36

"One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end."

"One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

36

"Of the various forms of government which have prevailed in the world, an hereditary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for ridicule."

"Of the various forms of government which have prevailed in the world, an hereditary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for ridicule."

Edward Gibbon, English Historian

Government, Present, Ridicule, World

36

"Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks."

"Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

36

"I thought Nixon was the worst President we had ever had, save only perhaps Andrew Johnson."

"I thought Nixon was the worst President we had ever had, save only perhaps Andrew Johnson."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Thought, Nixon, President

36

"We find it hard to believe that other people's thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are."

"We find it hard to believe that other people's thoughts are as silly as our own, but they probably are."

James Harvey Robinson, American Historian

People, Thoughts, Silly

36

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