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
We must do our best to raise the public awareness of the past in all its richness and complexity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Public awareness of history enriches our understanding of the present and future.
This quote emphasizes the importance of educating the public about history, highlighting its multifaceted nature. By recognizing and understanding the complexities of the past, individuals and societies can gain valuable insights that inform their present actions and help shape a better future.
Themes
HistoryAwarenessEducationComplexityPublic
In practice
Example use cases
During a history lecture, I used this quote to inspire my students to appreciate the complexities of historical events.
More from Margaret Macmillan
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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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