Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 28/35

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Quotes by Historian

"Expelled from individual consciousness by the rush of change, history finds its revenge by stamping the collective unconsciousness with habits and values."

"Expelled from individual consciousness by the rush of change, history finds its revenge by stamping the collective unconsciousness with habits and values."

Arthur M. Schlesinger, American Historian

History, Change, Values, Consciousness

23

"In government as well as in trade a new era came to the colonies in 1763."

"In government as well as in trade a new era came to the colonies in 1763."

Albert Bushnell Hart, American Historian

Government, Trade

23

"The function of a genius is not to give new answers, but to pose new questions which time and mediocrity can resolve."

"The function of a genius is not to give new answers, but to pose new questions which time and mediocrity can resolve."

Hugh Trevor Roper, English Historian

Time, Genius, Answers, Mediocrity

23

"Diplomacy means all the wicked devices of the Old World, spheres of influence, balances of power, secret treaties, triple alliances, and, during the interim period, appeasement of Fascism."

"Diplomacy means all the wicked devices of the Old World, spheres of influence, balances of power, secret treaties, triple alliances, and, during the interim period, appeasement of Fascism."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Power, Diplomacy, Fascism, Influence

23

"As you make your bed, so you must lie in it."

"As you make your bed, so you must lie in it."

Daniel J. Boorstin, American Historian

23

"If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates."

"If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates."

Howard Zinn, American Historian

People, Gods, Vote

23

"Chief among the forces affecting political folly is lust for power, named by Tacitus as "the most flagrant of all passions."

"Chief among the forces affecting political folly is lust for power, named by Tacitus as "the most flagrant of all passions."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Politics, Power, Lust, Truth

23

"Throughout the human experience people have read history because they felt that it was a pleasure and that it was in some way instructive. The profession of professor of history has taken it in a very different direction."

"Throughout the human experience people have read history because they felt that it was a pleasure and that it was in some way instructive. The profession of professor of history has taken it in a very different direction."

Donald Kagan, American Historian

Experience, History, People, Direction

23

"No language has ever had a word for a virgin man."

"No language has ever had a word for a virgin man."

Will Durant, American Historian

Identity, Truth, Curiosity, Knowledge, Wisdom

23

"History had its own way of explaining things. The way historians explain things is by telling a story."

"History had its own way of explaining things. The way historians explain things is by telling a story."

Donald Kagan, American Historian

History, Historians

23

"This filthy twentieth century. I hate its guts."

"This filthy twentieth century. I hate its guts."

Alfred Leslie Rowse, British Historian

23

"The fate of warnings in political affairs is to be futile when the recipient wishes otherwise."

"The fate of warnings in political affairs is to be futile when the recipient wishes otherwise."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Governance, Politics, Truth, Observation, Wisdom

23

"In nine times out of ten, the slanderous tongue belongs to a disappointed person."

"In nine times out of ten, the slanderous tongue belongs to a disappointed person."

George Bancroft, American Historian

Society, Tongue

23

"No politician has ever yet been able to rule his country, nor has any country ever yet been able to face the world, upon the principles of the Sermon on the Mount."

"No politician has ever yet been able to rule his country, nor has any country ever yet been able to face the world, upon the principles of the Sermon on the Mount."

Frederick Scott Oliver, American Historian

Country, Principles, World

23

"Madness is the absolute break with the work of art; it forms the constitutive moment of abolition, which dissolves in time the truth of the work of art."

"Madness is the absolute break with the work of art; it forms the constitutive moment of abolition, which dissolves in time the truth of the work of art."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

Art, Time, Work, Truth

23

"I think that the U.S. does have this very much more open attitude, and I admire it very much and I think it's very important to the world. But the information and the discussion sometimes come too late, after the effective decision has been made."

"I think that the U.S. does have this very much more open attitude, and I admire it very much and I think it's very important to the world. But the information and the discussion sometimes come too late, after the effective decision has been made."

E. P. Thompson, British Historian

Attitude, Decision, Information, Open

23

"The family is the nucleus of civilization."

"The family is the nucleus of civilization."

Will Durant, American Historian

Family, Civilization

22

"The story of the 'bondage' in Egypt, of the use of the Jews as slaves in great construction enterprises, their rebellion and escape - or emigration - to Asia, has many internal signs of essential truth, mingled, of course, with supernatural interpolations customary in all the historical writings of the ancient East."

"The story of the 'bondage' in Egypt, of the use of the Jews as slaves in great construction enterprises, their rebellion and escape - or emigration - to Asia, has many internal signs of essential truth, mingled, of course, with supernatural interpolations customary in all the historical writings of the ancient East."

Will Durant, American Historian

History, Truth, Interpretation, Learning

22

"For two decades the state has been taking liberties, and these liberties were once ours."

"For two decades the state has been taking liberties, and these liberties were once ours."

E. P. Thompson, British Historian

Politics, State

22

"The essence of romantic love is that wonderful beginning, after which sadness and impossibility may become the rule."

"The essence of romantic love is that wonderful beginning, after which sadness and impossibility may become the rule."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Love, Beginning, Impossibility, May

22

"Your goal is to achieve the best results by following their wishes. If they want you to build a house upside down standing on its chimney, it's up to you to do it."

"Your goal is to achieve the best results by following their wishes. If they want you to build a house upside down standing on its chimney, it's up to you to do it."

Richard M. Hunt, American Historian

Goal, Results, Want, Wishes

22

"The readings of Soviet society are as many as the experts you speak to. In my view, it's a society that is overdue for measures of democratization and organization."

"The readings of Soviet society are as many as the experts you speak to. In my view, it's a society that is overdue for measures of democratization and organization."

E. P. Thompson, British Historian

Society, Experts

22

"That is the best government which desires to make the people happy, and knows how to make them happy."

"That is the best government which desires to make the people happy, and knows how to make them happy."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

Government, People

22

"Invest in the future because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life."

"Invest in the future because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life."

Habeeb Akande, British Historian

Investment, Future, Planning, Wisdom

22

"The National League was born the following year, as an attempt to exert the control of capital over labor."

"The National League was born the following year, as an attempt to exert the control of capital over labor."

John Thorn, American Historian

22

"It is true that the politician, in his professional character, does not always, or even very often, conform to the most approved pattern of private conduct."

"It is true that the politician, in his professional character, does not always, or even very often, conform to the most approved pattern of private conduct."

Frederick Scott Oliver, American Historian

22

"When primitive law has once been embodied in a Code, there is an end to what may be called its spontaneous development."

"When primitive law has once been embodied in a Code, there is an end to what may be called its spontaneous development."

Henry James Sumner Maine, English Historian

Development, End, Law, May

22

"In should be the duty of every soldier to reflect on the experiences of the past, in the endeavor to discover improvements, in his particular sphere of action, which are practicable in the immediate future."

"In should be the duty of every soldier to reflect on the experiences of the past, in the endeavor to discover improvements, in his particular sphere of action, which are practicable in the immediate future."

B. H. Liddell Hart, British Historian

Action, Duty, Future, Past

22

"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behaves any of us to find fault with the rest of us."

"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behaves any of us to find fault with the rest of us."

James Truslow Adams, American Historian

Mistake, Fault, Rest

22

"Perhaps no person can be a poet, or even enjoy poetry, without a certain unsoundness of mind."

"Perhaps no person can be a poet, or even enjoy poetry, without a certain unsoundness of mind."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

22

"What other country has had the privilege of making the world's heart beat faster?"

"What other country has had the privilege of making the world's heart beat faster?"

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Patriotism, Observation, Truth, Wisdom

22

"The utility of perseverance in absurdity is more than I could ever discern. Edmund Burke."

"The utility of perseverance in absurdity is more than I could ever discern. Edmund Burke."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Perseverance, Absurdity, Reflection, Philosophy

22

"It is often said that Poland is a country where there is anti-semitism and no Jews, which is pathology in its purest state."

"It is often said that Poland is a country where there is anti-semitism and no Jews, which is pathology in its purest state."

Bronislaw Geremek, Polish Historian

Nation, Country, State

22

"Age acquires no value save through thought and discipline."

"Age acquires no value save through thought and discipline."

James Truslow Adams, American Historian

Age, Thought, Discipline, Value

21

"Making the choice to exercise compassion is an expression of Love for Humanity and Life itself."

"Making the choice to exercise compassion is an expression of Love for Humanity and Life itself."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Morality, Compassion, Love, Choice, Humanity

21

"No more distressing moment can ever face a British government than that which requires it to come to a hard, fast and specific decision."

"No more distressing moment can ever face a British government than that which requires it to come to a hard, fast and specific decision."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Government, Decision

21

"Human beings, like plans, prove fallible in the presence of those ingredients that are missing in maneuvers - danger, death, and live ammunition."

"Human beings, like plans, prove fallible in the presence of those ingredients that are missing in maneuvers - danger, death, and live ammunition."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Fallibility, Danger, War, Reality, Failure

21

"Civilization is the order and freedom is promoting cultural activity."

"Civilization is the order and freedom is promoting cultural activity."

Will Durant, American Historian

Civilization, Freedom, Order

21

"The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with discretion."

"The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with discretion."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

War, Discretion, Glory, Sea

21

"I was never able to convince myself that there was a cost-free alternative course, as from 1961, or that any of the different strategies since proposed, especially those involving stronger military action, would have made sense."

"I was never able to convince myself that there was a cost-free alternative course, as from 1961, or that any of the different strategies since proposed, especially those involving stronger military action, would have made sense."

William P. Bundy, American Historian

Action, Military, Sense

21

"We, to some degree, are like what we are because we inherited certain things from the Greeks and the Romans. One of them that's so striking is the whole area of politics."

"We, to some degree, are like what we are because we inherited certain things from the Greeks and the Romans. One of them that's so striking is the whole area of politics."

Donald Kagan, American Historian

21

"Any time the Western way of war can be unleashed on an enemy stupid enough to enter its arena, victory is assured."

"Any time the Western way of war can be unleashed on an enemy stupid enough to enter its arena, victory is assured."

Victor Davis Hanson, American Historian

Time, War, Victory, Enemy

21

"Clearly prize money received more serious attention than scurvy or signals."

"Clearly prize money received more serious attention than scurvy or signals."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Priorities, Priority, Observation, Truth, Wisdom

21

"Good women always think it is their fault when someone else is being offensive. Bad women never take the blame for anything."

"Good women always think it is their fault when someone else is being offensive. Bad women never take the blame for anything."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Woman, Women, Being, Blame, Fault

21

"Our misconception in viewing the past lies in assuming that doubt and fear, permit, protests, violence and hate were not equally present."

"Our misconception in viewing the past lies in assuming that doubt and fear, permit, protests, violence and hate were not equally present."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

History, Truth, Observation, Wisdom

21

"The scene is France. The theater is the world."

"The scene is France. The theater is the world."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Art, Observation, Truth, Wisdom, Life

21

"A minister's (cabinet member's) function was not to DO the work but to see that it got done."

"A minister's (cabinet member's) function was not to DO the work but to see that it got done."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Governance, Leadership, Responsibility, Management, Authority

21

"Autobiography is an unrivaled vehicle for telling the truth about other people."

"Autobiography is an unrivaled vehicle for telling the truth about other people."

Philip Guedalla, English Historian

Truth, People, Autobiography

21

"It is certain that if you would have the whole secret of a people, you must enter into the intimacy of their religion."

"It is certain that if you would have the whole secret of a people, you must enter into the intimacy of their religion."

Edgar Quinet, French Historian

Religion, People, Intimacy

21

"If the historian will submit himself to his material instead of trying to impose himself on his material, then the material will ultimately speak to him and supply the answers."

"If the historian will submit himself to his material instead of trying to impose himself on his material, then the material will ultimately speak to him and supply the answers."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

History, Humility, Truth, Research

21

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