Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 9/35

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Quotes by Historian

"Practical politics consists in ignoring facts."

"Practical politics consists in ignoring facts."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Politics, Facts

40

"Men are slower to recognize blessings than misfortunes."

"Men are slower to recognize blessings than misfortunes."

Titus Livius, Roman Historian

Man, Men, Blessings

40

"Boast is always a cry of despair, except in the young it is a cry of hope."

"Boast is always a cry of despair, except in the young it is a cry of hope."

Bernard Berenson, American Historian

40

"God does not suffer presumption in anyone but himself."

"God does not suffer presumption in anyone but himself."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

40

"There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the Establishment - and nothing more corrupting."

"There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the Establishment - and nothing more corrupting."

A. J. P. Taylor, British Historian

Life, Peace, Nothing

40

"If someone were to put a proposition before men bidding them choose, after examination, the best customs in the world, each nation would certainly select its own."

"If someone were to put a proposition before men bidding them choose, after examination, the best customs in the world, each nation would certainly select its own."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Man, Men, Examination, World

40

"Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself."

"Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself."

Sallust, Roman Historian

40

"We were now arrived at the close of our solitary journeyings along the St. Joseph's trail."

"We were now arrived at the close of our solitary journeyings along the St. Joseph's trail."

Francis Parkman, American Historian

40

"Death not merely ends life, it also bestows upon it a silent completeness, snatched from the hazardous flux to which all things human are subject."

"Death not merely ends life, it also bestows upon it a silent completeness, snatched from the hazardous flux to which all things human are subject."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

40

"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

40

"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

40

"Culture relates to objects and is a phenomenon of the world; entertainment relates to people and is a phenomenon of life."

"Culture relates to objects and is a phenomenon of the world; entertainment relates to people and is a phenomenon of life."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Life, People, Culture, Entertainment

40

"When a woman removes her garment, she also removes the respect that is hers."

"When a woman removes her garment, she also removes the respect that is hers."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

40

"Conscience is the mirror of our souls, which represents the errors of our lives in their full shape."

"Conscience is the mirror of our souls, which represents the errors of our lives in their full shape."

George Bancroft, American Historian

Conscience, Errors

40

"The leaders and followers of the Harlem Renaissance were every bit as intent on using Black culture to help make the United States a more functional democracy as they were on employing Black culture to 'vindicate' Black people."

"The leaders and followers of the Harlem Renaissance were every bit as intent on using Black culture to help make the United States a more functional democracy as they were on employing Black culture to 'vindicate' Black people."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Society, Culture, Equality, Activism, Empowerment

40

"There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob."

"There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Society, Mob, Nothing

40

"If the idea of loving those whom you have been taught to recognize as your enemies is too overwhelming, consider more deeply the observation that we are all much more alike than we are unalike."

"If the idea of loving those whom you have been taught to recognize as your enemies is too overwhelming, consider more deeply the observation that we are all much more alike than we are unalike."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Philosophy, Love, Humanity, Understanding, Compassion

40

"Then you get to the last half of the 20th century, Americans are getting very skeptical about their leaders and their institutions, and another place that is affected is parties and conventions."

"Then you get to the last half of the 20th century, Americans are getting very skeptical about their leaders and their institutions, and another place that is affected is parties and conventions."

Michael Beschloss, American Historian

American, Americans, Leaders

40

"The sword - the first, for a time the only force: the force of iron."

"The sword - the first, for a time the only force: the force of iron."

John Lothrop Motley, American Historian

Time, First, Force

40

"Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds."

"Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Politics, Practice

40

"When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing."

"When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Woman, Chastity, Nothing, Will

40

"Any theory intended to describe and analyze socio-historical reality cannot restrict itself to the human spirit and disregard the totality of human nature."

"Any theory intended to describe and analyze socio-historical reality cannot restrict itself to the human spirit and disregard the totality of human nature."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Nature, Humannature, Reality, Spirit

40

"Stars ink your fingerswith a lexicon of flameblazing rare knowledge."

"Stars ink your fingerswith a lexicon of flameblazing rare knowledge."

Aberjhani, American Historian

Science, Knowledge, Stars, Observation, Creativity

40

"In our so-called democracy we are accustomed to give the majority what they want rather than educate them to understand what is best for them."

"In our so-called democracy we are accustomed to give the majority what they want rather than educate them to understand what is best for them."

Carter G. Woodson, American Historian

Democracy, Majority, Want

40

"It is my contention that civil disobediences are nothing but the latest form of voluntary association, and that they are thus quite in tune with the oldest traditions of the country."

"It is my contention that civil disobediences are nothing but the latest form of voluntary association, and that they are thus quite in tune with the oldest traditions of the country."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Civil, Contention, Country, Nothing, Traditions

40

"Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end."

"Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Freedom, End, Liberty

40

"Big media companies have lots of money and content, but they have no way to tap into a good base of users."

"Big media companies have lots of money and content, but they have no way to tap into a good base of users."

Michael King, New Zealander Historian

Money, Content, Media, Newzealander

40

"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

40

"Their poverty secured their freedom, since our desires and our possessions are the strongest fetters of despotism."

"Their poverty secured their freedom, since our desires and our possessions are the strongest fetters of despotism."

Edward Gibbon, English Historian

Freedom, Possessions, Poverty

40

"In comparison with other men of their time, the Americans were distinguished by the possession of new political and social ideas, which were destined to be the foundation of the American commonwealth."

"In comparison with other men of their time, the Americans were distinguished by the possession of new political and social ideas, which were destined to be the foundation of the American commonwealth."

Albert Bushnell Hart, American Historian

Man, Men, Time, Ideas

40

"Rulers do not reduce taxes to be kind. Expediency and greed create high taxation, and normally it takes an impending catastrophe to bring it down."

"Rulers do not reduce taxes to be kind. Expediency and greed create high taxation, and normally it takes an impending catastrophe to bring it down."

Charles Adams, American Historian

Expediency, Greed, Taxation, Taxes

40

"If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it."

"If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Being, Fun, Man, Relaxation

40

"Property is not the sacred right. When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. When a poor man becomes destitute, it is a moral evil, teeming with consequences and injurious to society and morality."

"Property is not the sacred right. When a rich man becomes poor it is a misfortune, it is not a moral evil. When a poor man becomes destitute, it is a moral evil, teeming with consequences and injurious to society and morality."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Society, Morality, Consequences, Evil

40

"Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed."

"Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed."

Barbara Tuchman, American Historian

Time, Successful, Revolution

40

"The ultimate end of human acts is eudaimonia, happiness in the sense of living well, which all men desire; all acts are but different means chosen to arrive at it."

"The ultimate end of human acts is eudaimonia, happiness in the sense of living well, which all men desire; all acts are but different means chosen to arrive at it."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Happiness, Men, Desire, End

40

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

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

Herodotus, Greek Historian

40

"England and France were rivals, not only on the continent, but in the West Indies, in India, and in Europe."

"England and France were rivals, not only on the continent, but in the West Indies, in India, and in Europe."

Albert Bushnell Hart, American Historian

History, Engleurope, France

39

"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

39

"Eisenhower is my choice as the American of the 20th Century. Of all the men I've studied and written about, he is the brightest and the best."

"Eisenhower is my choice as the American of the 20th Century. Of all the men I've studied and written about, he is the brightest and the best."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Man, Men, Choice

39

"Every happiness is a hostage to fortune."

"Every happiness is a hostage to fortune."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

Happiness, Fortune

39

"As the archaeology of our thought easily shows, man is an invention of recent date. And one perhaps nearing its end."

"As the archaeology of our thought easily shows, man is an invention of recent date. And one perhaps nearing its end."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

Thought, End, Invention, Man

39

"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

39

"There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live."

"There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live."

James Truslow Adams, American Historian

39

"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

39

"It has always been my practice to cast a long paragraph in a single mould, to try it by my ear, to deposit it in my memory, but to suspend the action of the pen till I had given the last polish to my work."

"It has always been my practice to cast a long paragraph in a single mould, to try it by my ear, to deposit it in my memory, but to suspend the action of the pen till I had given the last polish to my work."

Edward Gibbon, English Historian

Work, Action, Memory, Pen

39

"People are so helpful. People will stop what they're doing to show you something, to walk with you through a section of the town, or explain how a suspension bridge really works."

"People are so helpful. People will stop what they're doing to show you something, to walk with you through a section of the town, or explain how a suspension bridge really works."

David McCullough, American Historian

39

"Superior strength is found in the long run to lie with those who had right on their side."

"Superior strength is found in the long run to lie with those who had right on their side."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Strength, Lie, Right

39

"Every one who has a heart, however ignorant of architecture he may be, feels the transcendent beauty and poetry of the mediaeval churches."

"Every one who has a heart, however ignorant of architecture he may be, feels the transcendent beauty and poetry of the mediaeval churches."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

Architecture, Beauty, Poetry, Heart

39

"Japanese naval officers in dress whites are frequent guests at Pearl Harbor's officers' mess and are very polite. They always were. Except, of course, for that little interval there between 1941 and 1945."

"Japanese naval officers in dress whites are frequent guests at Pearl Harbor's officers' mess and are very polite. They always were. Except, of course, for that little interval there between 1941 and 1945."

William Manchester, American Historian

39

"All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity."

"All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Friendship, Anger, Hatred, Pity

39

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