History is nothing but a pack of tricks that we play on the dead.

History is nothing but a pack of tricks that we play on the dead.

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.

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will read more

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.

What is amusing now had to be taken in desperate earnest once.

What is amusing now had to be taken in desperate earnest once.

History is the transformation of tumultuous conquerors into silent footnotes.

History is the transformation of tumultuous conquerors into silent footnotes.

There are no extraordinary men... just extraordinary circumstances that ordinary men are forced to deal with.

There are no extraordinary men... just extraordinary circumstances that ordinary men are forced to deal with.

Anecdotes are the gleaming toys of history. The history of mankind is little else than a narrative of designs which read more

Anecdotes are the gleaming toys of history. The history of mankind is little else than a narrative of designs which have failed and hopes that have been disappointed.

You lived too long, we have supped full with heroes, they waste their deaths on us.

You lived too long, we have supped full with heroes, they waste their deaths on us.

The only thing that does not change is that at any and every time it appears that there have been read more

The only thing that does not change is that at any and every time it appears that there have been "great changes.".