A man can be a hero if he is a scientist, or a soldier, or a drug addict, or a read more

A man can be a hero if he is a scientist, or a soldier, or a drug addict, or a disc jockey, or a crummy mediocre politician. A man can be a hero because he suffers and despairs; or because he thinks logically and analytically; or because he is "sensitive;" or because he is cruel. Wealth establishes a man as a hero, and so does poverty. Virtually any circumstance in a man's life will make him a hero to some group of people and has a mythic rendering in the culture -- in literature, art, theater, or the daily newspapers.

The fate of a nation has often depended on the food or bad digestion of a prime minister.

The fate of a nation has often depended on the food or bad digestion of a prime minister.

History shows that there are no invincible armies.

History shows that there are no invincible armies.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Look to the past for guidance into the future.

Look to the past for guidance into the future.

The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and read more

The charm of history and its enigmatic lesson consist in the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different.

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.

Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.

Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.

The past grows gradually around one, like a placenta for dying.

The past grows gradually around one, like a placenta for dying.