Quotes by Historians

To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy. Will Durant

Art Communication Diplomacy Half Nothing Say Speaking

The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through. Alexis de Tocqueville

Time Old Society See Layer Through Colours Aristocratic Democratic Surface Covered American From Time To Time Breaking American Society Paint

In politics shared hatreds are almost always the basis of friendships. Alexis de Tocqueville

Politics Shared Almost Always Friendships Basis

Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal, with takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice. Arnold J. Toynbee

Overcome Enthusiasm First Practice Imagination Definite Carrying Only Takes Ideal Aroused Intelligible Storm Apathy Plan Things Second Two

This assumption of Negro leadership in the ghetto, then, must not be confined to matters of religion, education, and social uplift; it must deal with such fundamental forces in life as make these things possible. Carter G. Woodson

Life Education Leadership Religion Matters Assumption Ghetto Possible Must Make Forces Deal Uplift Confined Social Then Fundamental Things

Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances. Herodotus

Men Rule Circumstances

If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves. Howard Zinn

History repeats itself. Historians repeat each other. Philip Guedalla

History History Repeats Itself Other Repeat Repeats Historians Itself Each

When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad. Tacitus

Good Envy Men Everything Bad Whether Full Disparage

Justice will not come to Athens until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured. Thucydides

Justice Will Those Athens Indignant Come Until Who Injured

Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice. Will Durant

Change Civilization Without Geological Subject Exists Notice Consent

The love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an old man has for his old wife. Will Durant

Love Man Youth Old Wife Our Superficial His Old Man Compared

Make the people sovereign and the poor will use the machinery of government to dispossess the rich. C. Northcote Parkinson

Government People Will Rich Machinery Make Sovereign Poor Use

In the long run, there is not much discrimination against superior talent. Carter G. Woodson

Superior Long Run Long Run Talent Discrimination Against Much

You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence. Charles A. Beard

Best You Struggle Yourself Dangerous Independence Citizen Reflect Reputation Fathers Our Ways Phrases About Only Days Go Repeating Very Get Which Used Founding Founding Fathers Need

Certainly, the president is expected to safeguard the Constitution by vetoing unconstitutional acts of Congress. This is especially true because many laws can only be brought before the courts in a collateral way, if at all. Charles A. Beard

Constitution Before Congress President Way Collateral Brought Laws Only Unconstitutional True Safeguard Because Courts Expected Certainly Many Acts

The effect of the mass media is not to elicit belief but to maintain the apparatus of addiction. Christopher Lasch

Addiction Maintain Mass Mass Media Effect Apparatus Belief Media Elicit