Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.
Doris Kearns GoodwinRead
The past is not simply the past, but a prism through which the subject filters his own changing self-image.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The past shapes our self-perception and how we view ourselves can evolve over time.
This quote by Doris Kearns Goodwin suggests that our understanding of the past is not fixed; rather, it is refracted through our current self-image and experiences. As we change and grow, the way we interpret our past also shifts, influencing our identity and perspective on life.
Themes
PastSelf-ImageIdentityChangePerspective
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, you can use this quote to emphasize the importance of evolving one's self-image.
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Once a president gets to the White House, the only audience that is left that really matters is history.
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That is what leadership is all about: staking your ground ahead of where opinion is and convincing people, not simply following the popular opinion of the moment.
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I am a historian. With the exception of being a wife and mother, it is who I am. And there is nothing I take more seriously.
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Obama does seem to have what both FDR and Lincoln had, which is the recognition that you have to hold back at times and then wait to come forward.
Doris Kearns GoodwinRead
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