Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 15/30

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Quotes by Historian

"In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game."

"In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Time, Life, Winning, Contention

12

"Existentialism is about being a saint without God; being your own hero, without all the sanction and support of religion or society."

"Existentialism is about being a saint without God; being your own hero, without all the sanction and support of religion or society."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Religion, Society, God, Being

12

"For long, history was mainly political history, and historical narrative was confined to an account of the most important crises in political life, or to an account of wars and great generals."

"For long, history was mainly political history, and historical narrative was confined to an account of the most important crises in political life, or to an account of wars and great generals."

Michael I. Rostovtzeff, Russian Historian

12

"As parties began to develop around the turn of the 19th century, you had party nominees for President nominated in caucuses made up of party members in Congress."

"As parties began to develop around the turn of the 19th century, you had party nominees for President nominated in caucuses made up of party members in Congress."

Michael Beschloss, American Historian

Congress, Party, President

12

"The prophets and the writers of the Psalms were clear that God was continuing to work in the universe and in all history. They declared that He had created the universe."

"The prophets and the writers of the Psalms were clear that God was continuing to work in the universe and in all history. They declared that He had created the universe."

Kenneth Scott Latourette, American Historian

Work, History, God, Universe

12

"A man calumniated is doubly injured - first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it."

"A man calumniated is doubly injured - first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Society, Calumny, First, Man

12

"Viewed narrowly, all life is universal hunger and an expression of energy associated with it."

"Viewed narrowly, all life is universal hunger and an expression of energy associated with it."

Mary Ritter Beard, American Historian

Life, Energy, Expression, Hunger

12

"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

12

"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

12

"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

12

"You are one of the forces of nature."

"You are one of the forces of nature."

Jules Michelet, French Historian

12

"Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it."

"Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Thought, Abuse, Will

12

"As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay."

"As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Health, Beginning, Blessings, End

12

"Time is the fairest and toughest judge."

"Time is the fairest and toughest judge."

Edgar Quinet, French Historian

12

"The different ness of races, moreover, is no evidence of superiority or of inferiority. This merely indicates that each race has certain gifts which the others do not possess."

"The different ness of races, moreover, is no evidence of superiority or of inferiority. This merely indicates that each race has certain gifts which the others do not possess."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

Equality, Inferiority, Superiority, Gifts, Race

12

"Except when war is waged in a desert, noncombatants, also known as civilians or "the people," constitute the great majority of those affected."

"Except when war is waged in a desert, noncombatants, also known as civilians or "the people," constitute the great majority of those affected."

Martin Van Creveld, Israeli Historian

War, People, Majority

12

"He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold."

"He is the best man who, when making his plans, fears and reflects on everything that can happen to him, but in the moment of action is bold."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

12

"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

12

"A "good" family, it seems, is one that used to be better."

"A "good" family, it seems, is one that used to be better."

Cleveland Amory, American Historian

12

"Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought."

"Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

Success, Successful, Desire

12

"No crime can ever be defended on rational grounds."

"No crime can ever be defended on rational grounds."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

12

"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

12

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

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

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

12

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind."

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind."

James Truslow Adams, American Historian

Attitude, Life, Discovery, Man

12

"Sure the people are stupid: the human race is stupid. Sure Congress is an inefficient instrument of government. But the people are not stupid enough to abandon representative government for any other kind, including government by the guy who knows."

"Sure the people are stupid: the human race is stupid. Sure Congress is an inefficient instrument of government. But the people are not stupid enough to abandon representative government for any other kind, including government by the guy who knows."

Bernard Devoto, American Historian

Government, People, Congress, Race

12

"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

12

"If there were a science of human beings it would be anthropology that aims at understanding the totality of experience through structural context."

"If there were a science of human beings it would be anthropology that aims at understanding the totality of experience through structural context."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Experience, Science, Anthropology, Understanding

12

"A good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot."

"A good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

12

"Save for the wild force of Nature, nothing moves in this world that is not Greek in its origin."

"Save for the wild force of Nature, nothing moves in this world that is not Greek in its origin."

John Acton, English Historian

Nature, Force, Nothing, World

12

"Heroism is endurance for one moment more."

"Heroism is endurance for one moment more."

George F. Kennan, American Historian

Heroism, Endurance

12

"Far from being the product of a democratic revolution and of an opposition to English institutions, the constitution of the United States was the result of a powerful reaction against democracy, and in favor of the traditions of the mother country."

"Far from being the product of a democratic revolution and of an opposition to English institutions, the constitution of the United States was the result of a powerful reaction against democracy, and in favor of the traditions of the mother country."

John Acton, English Historian

Family, Mother, Being, Constitution, Country

12

"Because it equates tradition with prejudice, the left finds itself increasingly unable to converse with ordinary people in their common language."

"Because it equates tradition with prejudice, the left finds itself increasingly unable to converse with ordinary people in their common language."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

People, Language, Prejudice, Tradition

12

"The growth of constitutional government, as we now understand it, was promoted by the establishment of two different sets of machinery for making laws and carrying on government."

"The growth of constitutional government, as we now understand it, was promoted by the establishment of two different sets of machinery for making laws and carrying on government."

Albert Bushnell Hart, American Historian

Government, Growth, Laws, Now

12

"History provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong."

"History provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong."

John Acton, English Historian

History, Suffering, Wrong

12

"Sun Tzu does not need my praise. His work has lived for over two thousand years, and will surely live for another two thousand without any help from me."

"Sun Tzu does not need my praise. His work has lived for over two thousand years, and will surely live for another two thousand without any help from me."

Martin van Creveld, Israeli Historian

Work, Help, Praise, Sun

12

"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

12

"I may attempt a novel. I think that no matter what you write, it requires being honest with oneself, and you have to pull yourself out of the whirlwind of daily life."

"I may attempt a novel. I think that no matter what you write, it requires being honest with oneself, and you have to pull yourself out of the whirlwind of daily life."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

Life, Being, May

12

"A few hours' ride brought us to the banks of the river Kansas."

"A few hours' ride brought us to the banks of the river Kansas."

Francis Parkman, American Historian

Geography, Banks

12

"Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord."

"Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Necessity, Harmony

12

"The chief product of an automated society is a widespread and deepening sense of boredom."

"The chief product of an automated society is a widespread and deepening sense of boredom."

C. Northcote Parkinson, British Historian

Society, Boredom, Sense

12

"Everyone carries his own inch rule of taste, and amuses himself by applying it, triumphantly, wherever he travels."

"Everyone carries his own inch rule of taste, and amuses himself by applying it, triumphantly, wherever he travels."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

12

"There are many more want-to-be writers out there than good editors."

"There are many more want-to-be writers out there than good editors."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Writer, Editors, Want, Writers

12

"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

12

"I think that black Africa is extremely terrifying. Black Africa can become a maelstrom of warring tribes without the outside world needing to feel the need to do anything about it."

"I think that black Africa is extremely terrifying. Black Africa can become a maelstrom of warring tribes without the outside world needing to feel the need to do anything about it."

John Keegan, English Historian

12

"The more I have studied Lincoln, the more I have followed his thought processes, the more I am convinced that he understood leadership better than any other American president."

"The more I have studied Lincoln, the more I have followed his thought processes, the more I am convinced that he understood leadership better than any other American president."

David Herbert Donald, American Historian

Leadership, Thought, President

12

"Education is the transmission of civilization."

"Education is the transmission of civilization."

Will Durant, American Historian

Education, Civilization

12

"Miracles happen to those who believe in them."

"Miracles happen to those who believe in them."

Bernard Berenson, American Historian

Belief, Miracles

12

"Crazy Horse saw history as integrated in the present, incorporated into daily life."

"Crazy Horse saw history as integrated in the present, incorporated into daily life."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

History, Life, Present

12

"Tired mothers find that spanking takes less time than reasoning and penetrates sooner to the seat of the memory."

"Tired mothers find that spanking takes less time than reasoning and penetrates sooner to the seat of the memory."

Will Durant, American Historian

Time, Memory, Mothers

12

"The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze."

"The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

12

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