History, n. an account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
AMBROSE BIERCE, The Devil's Dictionary
The history of the world is but the biography of great men.
THOMAS CARLYLE, Heroes and Hero-Worship, The Hero as Divinity
History ... is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.
EDWARD GIBBON, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors and issues.
T.S. ELIOT, Gerontion
That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.
ALDOUS HUXLEY, Collected Essays
The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice.
MARK TWAIN, Following the Equator
Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.
PLATO, Ion
History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.
CICERO, Pro Publio Sestio
History is more or less bunk.
HENRY FORD, Chicago Tribune, May 25, 1916
To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child.
CICERO
To study history means submitting to chaos and nevertheless retaining faith in order and meaning. It is a very serious task, young man, and possibly a tragic one.
HERMANN HESSE, The Glass Bead Game
Psychology keeps trying to vindicate human nature. History keeps undermining the effort.
MASON COOLEY, City Aphorisms
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
GEORGE SANTAYANA, The Life of Reason
