The history of mankind is little else than a narrative of designs which have failed and hopes that have been read more

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

History, as it lies at the root of all science, is also the first
distinct product of man's spiritual read more

History, as it lies at the root of all science, is also the first
distinct product of man's spiritual nature; his earliest
expression of what can be called Thought.

The function of posterity is to look after itself.

The function of posterity is to look after itself.

The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

History is always written wrong, and so always needs to be rewritten.

History is always written wrong, and so always needs to be rewritten.

The wisdom of hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly denied to practicing politicians.

The wisdom of hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly denied to practicing politicians.

To design the future effectively, you must first let go of your past.

To design the future effectively, you must first let go of your past.

While history never repeats itself, political patterns do.

While history never repeats itself, political patterns do.

The contact with manners then is education; and this Thucydides
appears to assert when he says history is philosophy read more

The contact with manners then is education; and this Thucydides
appears to assert when he says history is philosophy learned from
examples.