Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 8/30

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Quotes by Historian

"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

16

"The natural barriers between England and Scotland were not sufficient to prevent the extension of the Saxon settlements and kingdoms across the border."

"The natural barriers between England and Scotland were not sufficient to prevent the extension of the Saxon settlements and kingdoms across the border."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

History, England, Scotland

16

"Great writers are the saints for the godless."

"Great writers are the saints for the godless."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Literature, Saints, Writers

16

"I have certainly amassed many historical research gathering skills."

"I have certainly amassed many historical research gathering skills."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

16

"To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it."

"To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Resentment, May

16

"The mere imparting of information is not education."

"The mere imparting of information is not education."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

Education, Information

16

"Things forbidden have a secret charm."

"Things forbidden have a secret charm."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Temptation, Charm, Forbidden

16

"The Commonwealth has had consistently bad press. It was originally seen as a kind of hangover empire. People have long predicted its demise."

"The Commonwealth has had consistently bad press. It was originally seen as a kind of hangover empire. People have long predicted its demise."

Ben Pimlott, British Historian

16

"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

16

"If repression has indeed been the fundamental link between power, knowledge, and sexuality since the classical age, it stands to reason that we will not be able to free ourselves from it except at a considerable cost."

"If repression has indeed been the fundamental link between power, knowledge, and sexuality since the classical age, it stands to reason that we will not be able to free ourselves from it except at a considerable cost."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

Age, Power, Knowledge, Reason

16

"Freedom of conscience entails more dangers than authority and despotism."

"Freedom of conscience entails more dangers than authority and despotism."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

Authority, Conscience, Freedom

16

"Many Americans first fell in love with the poetry of the thirteenth century teacher and spiritual leader Jelalludin Rumi during the early 1990s when the unparalleled lyrical grace, philosophical brilliance, and spiritual daring of his work took modern Western readers completely by surprise. The impact of its soulful beauty and the depth of its profound humanity were so intense that they reportedly prompted numerous individuals to spontaneously compose poetry."

"Many Americans first fell in love with the poetry of the thirteenth century teacher and spiritual leader Jelalludin Rumi during the early 1990s when the unparalleled lyrical grace, philosophical brilliance, and spiritual daring of his work took modern Western readers completely by surprise. The impact of its soulful beauty and the depth of its profound humanity were so intense that they reportedly prompted numerous individuals to spontaneously compose poetry."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Art, Poetry, Spiritual, Beauty

16

"The lived experiences which could not find adequate scientific expression in the substance doctrine of rational psychology were now validated in light of new and better methods."

"The lived experiences which could not find adequate scientific expression in the substance doctrine of rational psychology were now validated in light of new and better methods."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Writing, Doctrine, Expression, Light, Now

16

"When I began, I thought that the way one should work was to do all the research and then write the book."

"When I began, I thought that the way one should work was to do all the research and then write the book."

David McCullough, American Historian

Work, Thought, Research

16

"Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time."

"Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time."

Frederick Jackson Turner, American Historian

Age, History, Time, Past

16

"The good historian is like the giant of the fairy tale. He knows that wherever he catches the scent of human flesh, there his quarry lies."

"The good historian is like the giant of the fairy tale. He knows that wherever he catches the scent of human flesh, there his quarry lies."

Marc Bloch, French Historian

16

"Our American heritage is greater than any one of us. It can express itself in very homely truths; in the end it can lift up our eyes beyond the glow in the sunset skies."

"Our American heritage is greater than any one of us. It can express itself in very homely truths; in the end it can lift up our eyes beyond the glow in the sunset skies."

Bruce Catton, American Historian

Heritage, End, Eyes, Sunset

16

"Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war."

"Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

16

"Nearly everywhere monarchs raised themselves further above the level of the greatest nobles and buttressed their new pretensions to respect and authority with cannons and taxation."

"Nearly everywhere monarchs raised themselves further above the level of the greatest nobles and buttressed their new pretensions to respect and authority with cannons and taxation."

J. M. Roberts, British Historian

Authority, Respect, Taxation

16

"Force has no place where there is need of skill."

"Force has no place where there is need of skill."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

16

"Well, it seems to me Lincoln, I suppose, is kind of a model of a particular sort of presidency, a presidency that first of all is elected by a minority of the votes."

"Well, it seems to me Lincoln, I suppose, is kind of a model of a particular sort of presidency, a presidency that first of all is elected by a minority of the votes."

David Herbert Donald, American Historian

Politics, First, Minority, Presidency

15

"Every vice was once a virtue, and may become respectable again, just as hatred becomes respectable in wartime."

"Every vice was once a virtue, and may become respectable again, just as hatred becomes respectable in wartime."

Will Durant, American Historian

Virtue, Hatred, May, Vice

15

"He had a wonderful talent for packing thought close, and rendering it portable."

"He had a wonderful talent for packing thought close, and rendering it portable."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

Talent, Thought

15

"No man, however strong, can serve ten years as schoolmaster, priest, or Senator, and remain fit for anything else."

"No man, however strong, can serve ten years as schoolmaster, priest, or Senator, and remain fit for anything else."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

15

"A single breaker may recede; but the tide is evidently coming in."

"A single breaker may recede; but the tide is evidently coming in."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

15

"Skepticism is an important historical tool. It is the starting point of all revision of hitherto accepted history."

"Skepticism is an important historical tool. It is the starting point of all revision of hitherto accepted history."

Samuel E. Morison, American Historian

History, Skepticism

15

"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself."

"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Death, Animals, Man

15

"To liberate words means first to shatter their function as vehicles of idea, memory, hope, or regret."

"To liberate words means first to shatter their function as vehicles of idea, memory, hope, or regret."

Thomas Harrison, American Historian

Idea, Hope, First, Memory

15

"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

15

"Lincoln had no such person that he could talk with. Often, as a result, he debated with himself, and he would draw up a kind of list of the pros and cons of an argument, and carefully figure them out, and he might test them in public."

"Lincoln had no such person that he could talk with. Often, as a result, he debated with himself, and he would draw up a kind of list of the pros and cons of an argument, and carefully figure them out, and he might test them in public."

David Herbert Donald, American Historian

Argument, Public, Result, Talk

15

"The insular arrogance of the English character is a commonplace joke."

"The insular arrogance of the English character is a commonplace joke."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

Character, Arrogance, English

15

"From the time I was a little boy I found myself reading history when I had a choice. I read a lot of things, but history had a special appeal for me."

"From the time I was a little boy I found myself reading history when I had a choice. I read a lot of things, but history had a special appeal for me."

Donald Kagan, American Historian

History, Time, Choice, Reading

15

"Like their predecessors, the Presidents of today just throw up their hands."

"Like their predecessors, the Presidents of today just throw up their hands."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

President, Today

15

"And my interest in history was, and remains, very strong: what I wanted was to understand certain things better by understanding them psychoanalytically."

"And my interest in history was, and remains, very strong: what I wanted was to understand certain things better by understanding them psychoanalytically."

Peter Gay, American Historian

History, Interest, Understanding

15

"Friends are born, not made."

"Friends are born, not made."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Friendship, Friends

15

"No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor."

"No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar."

"A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Trustworthiness, Charm, Man, Obvious

15

"From the beginning of the presidential nominating conventions in the 1830's really through the 1950's, you had conventions that actually did real business."

"From the beginning of the presidential nominating conventions in the 1830's really through the 1950's, you had conventions that actually did real business."

Michael Beschloss, American Historian

Business, Beginning

15

"A city that outdistances man's walking powers is a trap for man."

"A city that outdistances man's walking powers is a trap for man."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

15

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable."

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"George Orwell's contention was that it is a sure sign of trouble when things can no longer be called by their right names and described in plain, forthright speech."

"George Orwell's contention was that it is a sure sign of trouble when things can no longer be called by their right names and described in plain, forthright speech."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

Politics, Contention, Names, Right, Speech

15

"Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop."

"Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise."

"The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

15

"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

15

"There is not much that even the most socially responsible scientists can do as individuals, or even as a group, about the social consequences of their activities."

"There is not much that even the most socially responsible scientists can do as individuals, or even as a group, about the social consequences of their activities."

Eric Hobsbawm, British Historian

Consequence, Consequences, Scientists

15

"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

15

"The crusades made great improvement in the condition of the serfs."

"The crusades made great improvement in the condition of the serfs."

John Lothrop Motley, American Historian

15

"Learn as much by writing as by reading."

"Learn as much by writing as by reading."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Reading, Writing

15

"Only very slowly and late have men come to realize that unless freedom is universal it is only extended privilege."

"Only very slowly and late have men come to realize that unless freedom is universal it is only extended privilege."

John Edward Christopher Hill, English Historian

Man, Men, Freedom, Privilege

15

"Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience."

"Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience."

John Lothrop Motley, American Historian

Experience, Enthusiasm

15

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