It is not the literal past, the "facts" of history, that shape us, but images of the past embodied in read more

It is not the literal past, the "facts" of history, that shape us, but images of the past embodied in language.

Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress read more

Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion.

There are people who read too much: bibliobibuli. I know some who are constantly drunk on books, as other men read more

There are people who read too much: bibliobibuli. I know some who are constantly drunk on books, as other men are drunk on whiskey or religion. They wander through this most diverting and stimulating of worlds in a haze, seeing nothing and hearing nothing.

History never looks like history when you are living through it. It always looks confusing and messy, and it always read more

History never looks like history when you are living through it. It always looks confusing and messy, and it always feels uncomfortable.

History repeats itself, and that's one of the things that's wrong with history.

History repeats itself, and that's one of the things that's wrong with history.

It's true that heroes are inspiring, but mustn't they also do some rescuing if they are to be worthy of read more

It's true that heroes are inspiring, but mustn't they also do some rescuing if they are to be worthy of their name? Would Wonder Woman matter if she only sent commiserating telegrams to the distressed?

What is history but a fable agreed upon?

What is history but a fable agreed upon?

Look to the past for guidance into the future.

Look to the past for guidance into the future.

What want these outlaws conquerors should have
But History's purchased page to call them great?

What want these outlaws conquerors should have
But History's purchased page to call them great?