Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 25/35

top of page

Quotes by Historian

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

John Acton, English Historian

27

"The delicate thing about the university is that it has a mixed character, that it is suspended between its position in the eternal world, with all its corruption and evils and cruelties, and the splendid world of our imagination."

"The delicate thing about the university is that it has a mixed character, that it is suspended between its position in the eternal world, with all its corruption and evils and cruelties, and the splendid world of our imagination."

Richard Hofstadter, American Historian

Imagination, Character, Corruption, University

27

"Any child knows that history can only be a reduced representation of reality, but it must be a true one, not distorted by queer lenses."

"Any child knows that history can only be a reduced representation of reality, but it must be a true one, not distorted by queer lenses."

Samuel E. Morison, American Historian

History, Reality

27

"Intellectual honesty is the quality that the public in free countries always has expected of historians; much more than that it does not expect, nor often get."

"Intellectual honesty is the quality that the public in free countries always has expected of historians; much more than that it does not expect, nor often get."

Samuel E. Morison, American Historian

Quality, Honesty, Countries, Historians

27

"More fundamentally, it is a dream that does not die with the onset of manhood: the dream is to play endlessly, past the time when you are called home for dinner, past the time of doing chores, past the time when your body betrays you past time itself."

"More fundamentally, it is a dream that does not die with the onset of manhood: the dream is to play endlessly, past the time when you are called home for dinner, past the time of doing chores, past the time when your body betrays you past time itself."

John Thorn, American Historian

Home, Time, Dream, Body

27

"We need to decide that we will not go to war, whatever reason is conjured up by the politicians or the media, because war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children."

"We need to decide that we will not go to war, whatever reason is conjured up by the politicians or the media, because war in our time is always indiscriminate, a war against innocents, a war against children."

Howard Zinn, American Historian

Time, War, Children, Media

27

"The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses."

"The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses."

G. M. Trevelyan, English Historian

Responsibility, Excuses, Job

27

"He wanted AFFIRMATION rather than INFORMATION."

"He wanted AFFIRMATION rather than INFORMATION."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Affirmation, Desire, Identity, Recognition

27

"The pull, the attraction of history, is in our human nature. What makes us tick? Why do we do what we do? How much is luck the deciding factor?"

"The pull, the attraction of history, is in our human nature. What makes us tick? Why do we do what we do? How much is luck the deciding factor?"

David McCullough, American Historian

History, Nature, Humannature, Luck

27

"From childhood on I have had the dream of life lived as a sacrament... the dream implied taking life ritually as something holy."

"From childhood on I have had the dream of life lived as a sacrament... the dream implied taking life ritually as something holy."

Bernard Berenson, American Historian

Life, Dream, Childhood

27

"For many of us, sport has provided the continuity in our lives, the alternative family to the one we left behind. It gives us something to talk about, to preen about, to care about."

"For many of us, sport has provided the continuity in our lives, the alternative family to the one we left behind. It gives us something to talk about, to preen about, to care about."

John Thorn, American Historian

Family, Care, Talk

27

"Culture must have its ultimate aim in the metaphysical or it will cease to be culture."

"Culture must have its ultimate aim in the metaphysical or it will cease to be culture."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Cultural, Culture, Will

27

"The work of Henry James has always seemed divisible by a simple dynastic arrangement into three reigns: James I, James II, and the Old Pretender."

"The work of Henry James has always seemed divisible by a simple dynastic arrangement into three reigns: James I, James II, and the Old Pretender."

Philip Guedalla, English Historian

27

"Men enter local politics solely as a result of being unhappily married."

"Men enter local politics solely as a result of being unhappily married."

C. Northcote Parkinson, British Historian

Man, Men, Politics, Being, Result

27

"They resented the patronage they depended upon."

"They resented the patronage they depended upon."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Dependence, Resentment, Power, Conflict

27

"Talk is cheap when your words are of no value."

"Talk is cheap when your words are of no value."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Communication, Word, Observation, Truth, Wisdom

27

"In some way the god had to be appeased and satisfied; for his worshipers had made him in the image and dream of themselves, and he had no great regard for human life, or womanly tears."

"In some way the god had to be appeased and satisfied; for his worshipers had made him in the image and dream of themselves, and he had no great regard for human life, or womanly tears."

Will Durant, American Historian

Religion, God, Worship, Humanity, Reflection

27

"Let us banish fear."

"Let us banish fear."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

27

"A history of civilization shares the presumptuousness of every philosophical enterprise: it offers the ridiculous spectacle of a fragment expounding the whole. Like philosophy, such a venture has no rational excuse, and is at best but a brave stupidity; but let us hope that, like philosophy, it will always lure some rash spirits into its fatal depths."

"A history of civilization shares the presumptuousness of every philosophical enterprise: it offers the ridiculous spectacle of a fragment expounding the whole. Like philosophy, such a venture has no rational excuse, and is at best but a brave stupidity; but let us hope that, like philosophy, it will always lure some rash spirits into its fatal depths."

Will Durant, American Historian

History, Civilization, Philosophy, Learning, Observation

27

"Learn to love your haters, they are a wonderful source of inspiration."

"Learn to love your haters, they are a wonderful source of inspiration."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Inspirational, Truth, Wisdom, Observation

27

"You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish."

"You have no idea how promising the world begins to look once you have decided to have it all for yourself. And how much healthier your decisions are once they become entirely selfish."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Creativity, Idea, Decisions, World

27

"Nothing sickens me more than the closed door of a library."

"Nothing sickens me more than the closed door of a library."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

27

"Historical methodology, as I see it, is a product of common sense applied to circumstances."

"Historical methodology, as I see it, is a product of common sense applied to circumstances."

Samuel E. Morison, American Historian

Circumstance, Circumstances, Commonsense

27

"Art gives its vision to beauty not always recognized. And it surrenders freely -- whatever power it possesses to every sincere soul that seeks it. But above all else--it presents us with the gift of ourselves."

"Art gives its vision to beauty not always recognized. And it surrenders freely -- whatever power it possesses to every sincere soul that seeks it. But above all else--it presents us with the gift of ourselves."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Art, Beauty, Vision, Expression

27

"Americans are the only people in the world known to me whose status anxiety prompts them to advertise their college and university affiliations in the rear window of their automobiles."

"Americans are the only people in the world known to me whose status anxiety prompts them to advertise their college and university affiliations in the rear window of their automobiles."

Paul Fussell, American Historian

People, Americans, Anxiety, Automobiles

27

"The more violent the body contact of the sports you watch, the lower the class."

"The more violent the body contact of the sports you watch, the lower the class."

Paul Fussell, American Historian

Sports, Body, Class

27

"Indeed His blessings are in the struggle."

"Indeed His blessings are in the struggle."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Faith, Struggle, Blessing, Truth

27

"Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty."

"Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Truth, Delay, Falsehood, Haste

27

"I think that much of this was running in background as I contemplated whether or not to attend the PS 99 reunion, although I certainly anticipated that I would not; it smelled like death, not youth."

"I think that much of this was running in background as I contemplated whether or not to attend the PS 99 reunion, although I certainly anticipated that I would not; it smelled like death, not youth."

John Thorn, American Historian

Death, Running, Youth

27

"History is the interpretation of the significance that the past has for us."

"History is the interpretation of the significance that the past has for us."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

27

"The most that one of Jewish faith can do - and some have gladly done it - is to say that Jesus was the greatest in the long succession of Jewish prophets. None can acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah without becoming a Christian."

"The most that one of Jewish faith can do - and some have gladly done it - is to say that Jesus was the greatest in the long succession of Jewish prophets. None can acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah without becoming a Christian."

Kenneth Scott Latourette, American Historian

Faith, Christian

27

"If we rated greatness by the influence of the great, we will say 'Muhammad is the greatest of the great in history."

"If we rated greatness by the influence of the great, we will say 'Muhammad is the greatest of the great in history."

Will Durant, American Historian

History, Greatness, Influence, Leadership

27

"I think I was always subconsciously driven by an attempt to restate that faith and to show where it was properly grounded, how it grew out of what a great many young men on both sides felt and believed and were brave enough to do."

"I think I was always subconsciously driven by an attempt to restate that faith and to show where it was properly grounded, how it grew out of what a great many young men on both sides felt and believed and were brave enough to do."

Bruce Catton, American Historian

27

"Of course, in the United States, which at the time was a very young country, there were also class distinctions. They weren't as pronounced, but they quickly evolved as well."

"Of course, in the United States, which at the time was a very young country, there were also class distinctions. They weren't as pronounced, but they quickly evolved as well."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

Time, Class, Country, States

27

"Nothing can stop an enemy from picking wireless messages out of the free air - and nothing did."

"Nothing can stop an enemy from picking wireless messages out of the free air - and nothing did."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Security, War, Communication, Sensitivity

27

"We need not be theologians to see that we have shifted responsibility for making the world interesting from God to the newspaperman."

"We need not be theologians to see that we have shifted responsibility for making the world interesting from God to the newspaperman."

Daniel J. Boorstin, American Historian

God, Responsibility, World

27

"Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, 'This is the real me,' and when you have found that attitude, follow it."

"Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, 'This is the real me,' and when you have found that attitude, follow it."

James Truslow Adams, American Historian

Attitude, Voice

27

"One half who graduate from college never read another book."

"One half who graduate from college never read another book."

G. M. Trevelyan, English Historian

27

"This illuminates not only fans' interest in major league teams but also the minors and even Little League."

"This illuminates not only fans' interest in major league teams but also the minors and even Little League."

John Thorn, American Historian

Sports, Fans, Interest

26

"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

26

"Once a president gets to the White House, the only audience that is left that really matters is history."

"Once a president gets to the White House, the only audience that is left that really matters is history."

Doris Kearns Goodwin, American Historian

History, President

26

"The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority."

"The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority."

Will Durant, American Historian

Acting, Machine, Majority, Minority

26

"No harm's done to history by making it something someone would want to read."

"No harm's done to history by making it something someone would want to read."

David McCullough, American Historian

History, Harm, Want

26

"You can parody and make fun of almost anything, but that does not turn the universe into a caricature."

"You can parody and make fun of almost anything, but that does not turn the universe into a caricature."

Bernard Berenson, American Historian

26

"The courage to imagine the otherwise is our greatest resource, adding color and suspense to all our life."

"The courage to imagine the otherwise is our greatest resource, adding color and suspense to all our life."

Daniel J. Boorstin, American Historian

Life, Courage, Suspense

26

"This bloody past suggests to us that enemies cease hostilities only when they are battered enough to acknowledge that there is no hope in victory - and thus that further resistance means only useless sacrifice."

"This bloody past suggests to us that enemies cease hostilities only when they are battered enough to acknowledge that there is no hope in victory - and thus that further resistance means only useless sacrifice."

Victor Davis Hanson, American Historian

Sacrifice, Hope, Victory, Enemies

26

"The last three decades have seen the collapse of the family wage system."

"The last three decades have seen the collapse of the family wage system."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

26

"In any case, his judgment and set of values, acting alone or through his assistants, determine not only what is gold and what is dross but the design of the history which he creates out of the metal. The historian decides what is significant, and what is not."

"In any case, his judgment and set of values, acting alone or through his assistants, determine not only what is gold and what is dross but the design of the history which he creates out of the metal. The historian decides what is significant, and what is not."

Samuel E. Morison, American Historian

Design, History, Values, Acting

26

"Culture means control over nature."

"Culture means control over nature."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Nature, Control, Culture

26

"Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them."

"Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them."

Francesco Guicciardini, Italian Historian

Friendship, Chance, Friends, Nothing, Worth

26

bottom of page