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
I'm always wary of the lessons of the past. There's a lot of past out there, and you can draw whatever lessons you want.
Interpretation
Be cautious about how you interpret history, as it offers many lessons that can be misleading.
Margaret Macmillan's quote suggests that while the past is rich with lessons and experiences, one should be discerning in the lessons drawn from it. History can be viewed in many ways, and it is important to critically evaluate these interpretations rather than accepting them at face value. This caution can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure a better understanding of present and future situations.
In practice
In a discussion about historical events, this quote can remind participants to be critical of the narratives we accept.
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.
Climate change respects no borders.
War is a crucial, deeply ingrained part of human history. It has to be understood.
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.
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.
If we don't take responsibility for each other, it seems to me the future is going to be even bleaker.
Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you.
As a writer, the best mindset is to be unafraid.
Remember this Saying, 'That the good Paymaster is Lord of another Man's Purse.' He that is known to pay punctually and exactly to the Time he promises, may at any Time, and on any Occasion, raise all the Money his Friends can spare.
Atticus said that Jem was trying hard to forget something, but what he was really doing was storing it away for a while, until enough time passed. Then he would be able to think about it and sort things out. When he was able to think about it, Jem would be himself again.
By not caring too much about what people think, I'm able to think for myself and propagate ideas which are very often unpopular. And I succeed.
Don’t romanticise your ‘vocation’. You can either write good sentences or you can’t. There is no ‘writer’s lifestyle’. All that matters is what you leave on the page.
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