Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 14/35

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Quotes by Historian

"The public is wiser than the wisest critic."

"The public is wiser than the wisest critic."

George Bancroft, American Historian

46

"On March 10, 1764, preliminary resolutions passed the House of Commons looking towards the Stamp Act."

"On March 10, 1764, preliminary resolutions passed the House of Commons looking towards the Stamp Act."

Albert Bushnell Hart, American Historian

46

"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

46

"I would rather be poor in a cottage full of books than a king without the desire to read."

"I would rather be poor in a cottage full of books than a king without the desire to read."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

Books, Desire, Poor

46

"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

46

"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

46

"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

46

"The conservative revival cannot be dismissed."

"The conservative revival cannot be dismissed."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

46

"To attempt this would be like seeing without eyes or directing the gaze of knowledge behind one's own eye. Modern science can acknowledge no other than this epistemological stand-point."

"To attempt this would be like seeing without eyes or directing the gaze of knowledge behind one's own eye. Modern science can acknowledge no other than this epistemological stand-point."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Science, Knowledge, Eye, Eyes

46

"There is not a soul who does not have to beg alms of another, either a smile, a handshake, or a fond eye."

"There is not a soul who does not have to beg alms of another, either a smile, a handshake, or a fond eye."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Soul, Eye, Smile

46

"The fate of every democracy, of every government based on the sovereignty of the people, depends on the choices it makes between these opposite principles, absolute power on the one hand, and on the other the restraints of legality and the authority of tradition."

"The fate of every democracy, of every government based on the sovereignty of the people, depends on the choices it makes between these opposite principles, absolute power on the one hand, and on the other the restraints of legality and the authority of tradition."

John Acton, English Historian

Government, Power, People, Authority

46

"The facts of life are very stubborn things."

"The facts of life are very stubborn things."

Cleveland Amory, American Historian

46

"My first book was the book that changed my life."

"My first book was the book that changed my life."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

46

"The founders were very worried that if parties developed in America, you might have something like the modern Italian system, where you have 20 different parties that divide Congress and the country and can't govern."

"The founders were very worried that if parties developed in America, you might have something like the modern Italian system, where you have 20 different parties that divide Congress and the country and can't govern."

Michael Beschloss, American Historian

America, Congress, Country

46

"They must therefore not spoil Alexander's undertaking, especially when they were almost at the close of their toils, and were, moreover, no longer in any difficulty about provisions on their coasting cruise."

"They must therefore not spoil Alexander's undertaking, especially when they were almost at the close of their toils, and were, moreover, no longer in any difficulty about provisions on their coasting cruise."

Arrian, Greek Historian

Military, Difficulty

46

"The old Romans all wished to have a king over them because they had not yet tasted the sweetness of freedom."

"The old Romans all wished to have a king over them because they had not yet tasted the sweetness of freedom."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

Freedom, Old, Sweetness

46

"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

46

"Fear is the parent of cruelty."

"Fear is the parent of cruelty."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

46

"It is clear that not in one thing alone, but in many ways equality and freedom of speech are a good thing."

"It is clear that not in one thing alone, but in many ways equality and freedom of speech are a good thing."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Equality, Freedom, Speech

46

"All the lessons of history in four sentences: Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad with power. The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small. The bee fertilizes the flower it robs. When it is dark enough, you can see the stars."

"All the lessons of history in four sentences: Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad with power. The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small. The bee fertilizes the flower it robs. When it is dark enough, you can see the stars."

Charles A. Beard, American Historian

History, Power, God, Gods

46

"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

46

"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

46

"We are all revolutionaries now, addicts of change."

"We are all revolutionaries now, addicts of change."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

46

"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

46

"Never had there been such an attempt to make conquest the servant of civilization. About keeping India there is no question. England has a real duty there."

"Never had there been such an attempt to make conquest the servant of civilization. About keeping India there is no question. England has a real duty there."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

Civilization, Conquest, Duty, England

46

"Do not forget to tell your daughters God made them beautiful."

"Do not forget to tell your daughters God made them beautiful."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Parenting, Beauty, Affirmation, Faith, Self-Worth

46

"I am not afraid of being sued by white businessmen. In fact, I should welcome such a law suit."

"I am not afraid of being sued by white businessmen. In fact, I should welcome such a law suit."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

Being, Fact, Law

46

"It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men."

"It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

Man, Men, Misfortune

46

"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

46

"It is needless to say how great has been the influence of the doctrine of Evolution, or rather perhaps of the method of investigation to which it has given birth, upon the study of history, especially the history of institutions."

"It is needless to say how great has been the influence of the doctrine of Evolution, or rather perhaps of the method of investigation to which it has given birth, upon the study of history, especially the history of institutions."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

History, Doctrine, Evolution, Influence

46

"Most of these alternative arrangements, so-called, arise out of the ruins of marriages, not as an improvement of old fashioned marriage."

"Most of these alternative arrangements, so-called, arise out of the ruins of marriages, not as an improvement of old fashioned marriage."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

Marriage, Improvement, Old

46

"Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom."

"Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom."

Will Durant, American Historian

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Philosophy

46

"Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius."

"Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius."

Edward Gibbon, English Historian

Genius, Conversation, School, Solitude

46

"It's time to stop following your dreams and time to start chasing them!"

"It's time to stop following your dreams and time to start chasing them!"

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Drive, Dream, Action, Ambition, Initiative

46

"It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it."

"It is a paradoxical but profoundly true and important principle of life that the most likely way to reach a goal is to be aiming not at that goal itself but at some more ambitious goal beyond it."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

46

"The repudiation of the primacy of understanding means the repudiation of the norms of judgment as well, and hence the abandonment of all ethical standards."

"The repudiation of the primacy of understanding means the repudiation of the norms of judgment as well, and hence the abandonment of all ethical standards."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Judgment, Understanding

46

"What strikes me is the fact that in our society, art has become something which is only related to objects, and not to individuals, or to life."

"What strikes me is the fact that in our society, art has become something which is only related to objects, and not to individuals, or to life."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

Life, Art, Society, Fact

46

"Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries."

"Give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries."

John Lothrop Motley, American Historian

46

"Dare to love yourselfas if you were a rainbowwith gold at both ends."

"Dare to love yourselfas if you were a rainbowwith gold at both ends."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Self, Self-Love, Confidence, Identity, Joy

46

"In everyday things the law of sacrifice takes the form of positive duty."

"In everyday things the law of sacrifice takes the form of positive duty."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Sacrifice, Positive, Duty, Law

46

"Christians were regarded as separated from society and therefore destructive of the Greco-Roman way of life."

"Christians were regarded as separated from society and therefore destructive of the Greco-Roman way of life."

Kenneth Scott Latourette, American Historian

46

"Bankers know that history is inflationary and that money is the last thing a wise man will hoard."

"Bankers know that history is inflationary and that money is the last thing a wise man will hoard."

Will Durant, American Historian

History, Money, Man, Will

46

"The practical effect of a belief is the real test of its soundness."

"The practical effect of a belief is the real test of its soundness."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Trust, Belief, Effect

46

"I was taught by professors who had done their schooling in the 1930s. Most of them were scornful of, even hated, big business."

"I was taught by professors who had done their schooling in the 1930s. Most of them were scornful of, even hated, big business."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

46

"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

46

"No real blood flows in the veins of the knowing subject constructed by Locke, Hume, and Kant, but rather the diluted extract of reason as a mere activity of thought."

"No real blood flows in the veins of the knowing subject constructed by Locke, Hume, and Kant, but rather the diluted extract of reason as a mere activity of thought."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Thought, Blood, Reason

46

"History not used is nothing, for all intellectual life is action, like practical life, and if you don't use the stuff well, it might as well be dead."

"History not used is nothing, for all intellectual life is action, like practical life, and if you don't use the stuff well, it might as well be dead."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

History, Life, Action, Nothing

46

"We are fans because the game also appeals to our local pride, our pleasure in thinking of ourselves as, yes, Americans but nonetheless different from residents of other towns, other states, other regions."

"We are fans because the game also appeals to our local pride, our pleasure in thinking of ourselves as, yes, Americans but nonetheless different from residents of other towns, other states, other regions."

John Thorn, American Historian

Sports, Americans, Fans, Pleasure, Pride

46

"Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."

"Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."

Will Durant, American Historian

Education, Discovery, Ignorance, Nothing

46

"Philosophy goes no further than probabilities, and in every assertion keeps a doubt in reserve."

"Philosophy goes no further than probabilities, and in every assertion keeps a doubt in reserve."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Doubt, Philosophy

46

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