When a documentary filmmaker, working in the style that I do, suggests that there has been a shooting ratio of 40 hours to every one hour of finished film, that doesn't mean that the other 39 are bad.
Ken BurnsRead
I think we continually need to understand how important an event the war was - how defining, how central to who we are. Everything that came before it led up to it, and everything of importance to this country - at least up to 1940 - was a consequence of it. Even now there's an echo of the war, however faint, in almost everyone's life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the profound impact of war on national identity and life.
Ken Burns reflects on the significant role that war has played in shaping the identity and history of a nation. He suggests that the events of the war are not just historical markers but are woven into the fabric of contemporary life, influencing the present and leaving an enduring impact on the collective consciousness of society.
Themes
WarHistoryIdentityImpactLegacy
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the effects of historical events on national identity, this quote could highlight the significance of war.
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It is the great arrogance of the present to forget the intelligence of the past
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Jazz is a very accurate, curiously accurate accompaniment to 20th century America.
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