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

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

Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian.

Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian.

Just as philosophy is the study of other people's misconceptions, so history is the study of other people's mistakes.

Just as philosophy is the study of other people's misconceptions, so history is the study of other people's mistakes.

A light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine morning have often made a hero of the same man read more

A light supper, a good night's sleep, and a fine morning have often made a hero of the same man who by indigestion, a restless night, and a rainy morning, would have proved a coward.

The most terrible job in warfare is to be a second lieutenant leading a platoon when you are on the read more

The most terrible job in warfare is to be a second lieutenant leading a platoon when you are on the battlefield.

Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.

Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief... For a read more

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief... For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

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.

History repeats itself; historians repeat each other.

History repeats itself; historians repeat each other.