Throughout the human experience people have read history because they felt that it was a pleasure and that it was in some way instructive. The profession of professor of history has taken it in a very different direction.
Donald KaganRead
War has been more common than peace, and extended periods of peace have been rare in a world divided into multiple states
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the historical prevalence of war over peace among divided nations.
Donald Kagan highlights the unfortunate reality of human history where war is more frequent than peace, suggesting that sustained periods of tranquility are uncommon in a world fractured along political and territorial lines. This observation urges us to reflect on the nature of international relations and the challenges of achieving lasting peace amidst longstanding divisions.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of diplomacy.
Throughout the human experience people have read history because they felt that it was a pleasure and that it was in some way instructive. The profession of professor of history has taken it in a very different direction.
Without history we are the prisoners of the accident of where and when we were born.
I can see that you are a true historian because you really always ought to ask that question about anybody at a different place or a different time: What's the same and what's different?
The present time is seldom able to fill desire or imagination with immediate enjoyment, and we are forced to supply its deficiencies by recollection or anticipation.
Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage._x000D_ Minds innocent and quiet take that for a hermitage:_x000D_ If I have freedom in my love, and in my Soul I am free,_x000D_ Angels alone, that soar above, enjoy such liberty.
You can tell if people are following Jesus, because they are fedding the poor, sharing their wealth, and trying to get everyone medical insurance.
The Christian truth is attractive and persuasive because it responds to humanity's deepest needs.
Am I a pessimist? Not at all. I am convinced that the history of the human race, no matter how tragic, will ultimately lead to the Kingdom of God. I am convinced that all the works of humankind will be reintegrated in the work of God, and that each of us, no matter how sinful, will ultimately be saved.
Here life goes on, even and monotonous on the surface, full of lightning, of summits and of despair, in its depths. We have now arrived at a stage in life so rich in new perceptions that cannot be transmitted to those at another stage - one feels at the same time full of so much gentleness and so much despair - the enigma of this life grows, grows, drowns one and crushes one, then all of a sudden in a supreme moment of light one becomes aware of the sacred.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.