An apology offered and, equally important, received is a step towards reconciliation and, sometimes, recompense. Without that process, hurts can rankle and fester and erupt into their own hatreds and wrongdoings.
Margaret MacmillanRead
History is about great forces, yes, but also about contingency.
Interpretation
What this quote means
History is shaped by both significant events and unpredictable occurrences.
Margaret Macmillan's quote emphasizes that while history is influenced by powerful forces such as wars and political movements, it is also significantly affected by chance events and unforeseen circumstances. These contingencies can change the course of events in unexpected ways, reminding us that history is not just a linear path but a complex interplay of various factors.
Themes
HistoryForcesContingencyEventsUnpredictable
In practice
Example use cases
In a history class discussion about the impact of chance events on historical outcomes.
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War is a crucial, deeply ingrained part of human history. It has to be understood.
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There was that argument that if we had more women in positions of authority, the world would be a nicer place. And then we got Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Indira Gandhi. When women become acclimatised to war, they can become every bit as ruthless as men.
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Theodore Roosevelt's policy to build a two-ocean navy confirmed that the old-style isolationism of the founders had not survived the modern, increasingly globalized world.
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If we don't take responsibility for each other, it seems to me the future is going to be even bleaker.
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