Quotes on History

The mind's direction is more important than its progress.

The wise only possess ideas; the greater part of mankind are possessed by them.

Human behaviour reveals uniformities which constitute natural laws. If these uniformities did not exist, then there would be neither social science nor political economy, and even the study of history would largely be useless. In effect, if the future actions of men having nothing in common with their past actions, our knowledge of them, although possibly satisfying our curiosity by way of an interesting story, would be entirely useless to us as a guide in life.

Everything is a dangerous drug except reality which is unendurable.

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

There's no one as transparent as the person who thinks he's devilish deep.

Change is scientific; progress is ethical; change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.

As soon as histories are properly told there is no more need of romances.

An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.

If a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove, history could not be written.

It is in times of difficulty that great nations like great men display the whole energy of their character and become an object of admiration to posterity.

I must accommodate my history to the hour: I may presently change, not only by fortune, but also by intention.

In the history of the individual is always an account of his condition, and he knows himself to be a party to his present estate.

Historians relate not so much what is done as what they would have believed.

The talent of historians lies in their creating a true ensemble out of facts which are but half true.

At each epoch of history the world was in a hopeless state, and at each epoch of history the world muddled through; at each epoch the world was lost, and at each epoch it was saved.

To think historically is almost the same thing now as if in all ages history had been made according to theory.

The greatest man in history was the poorest.

Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.

I don't know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

The recurrence of a phenomenon like Edison is not very likely. The profound change of conditions and the ever increasing necessity of theoretical training would seem to make it impossible. He will occupy a unique and exalted position in the history of his native land, which might well be proud of his great genius and undying achievements in the interest of humanity.