History Quotes

Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.

If Beethoven had been killed in a plane crash at the age of 22, it would have changed the history of music – and of aviation.

There is no history of mankind, there are only many histories of all kinds of aspects of human life. And one of these is the history of political power. This is elevated into the history of the world.

There is a history in all men’s lives Figuring the nature of the times deceas’d; The which observ’d, a man may prophesy, With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life, which in their seeds And weak beginnings lie intreasured. (Henry IV)

All history is only one long story to this effect: men have struggled for power over their fellowmen in order that they might win the joys of earth at the expense of others, and might shift the burden of life from their own shoulders upon those of others.

Things just happen, one after another. They don’t care who knows But “history” – ah, history is different. History has to be observed. Otherwise it’s not history. It’s just – well, things happening one after another.

We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have their roots in Greece.

Life is one tenth Here and Now, nine-tenths a history lesson. For most of the time the Here and Now is neither now nor here.

Give the historians something to write about.

History must speak for itself. A historian is content if he has been able to shed more light.