As History stands, it is a sort of Chinese Play, without end and without lesson. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
History is a tangled skein that one may take up at any point, and break when one has unravelled enough. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
One sought not absolute truth. One sought only a spool on which to wind the thread of history without breaking it. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
A society in stable equilibrium is-by definition-one that has no history and wants no historians. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
Nothing is easier than to teach historical method, but, when learned, it has little use. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
One does every day and without a second thought, what at another time would be the event of a year, perhaps of… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
History will die if not irritated. The only service I can do to my profession is to serve as a flea. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
It is now conceded that all idea of British intervention is at an end... I want to hug the army of the… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
My own conclusion is that history is simply social development along the lines of weakest resistance, and that in most cases the… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
Throughout human history the waste of mind has been appalling, and, as this story is meant to show, society has conspired to… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
In the history of the United States, there is no continuity at all. You can cut through it anywhere and nothing on… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
The great word Evolution had not yet, in 1860, made a new religion of history, but the old religion had preached the… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
No historian can take part with--or against--the forces he has to study. To him even the extinction of the human race should… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
As history stands, it is a sort of Chinese play, without end andl without lesson. With these impressions I wrote the last… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
People here are quite struck aback at Sunday's news of the capture of New Orleans. It took them three days to make… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
The historian must not try to know what is truth, if he values his honesty; for if he cares for his truths,… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
I have written too much history to have faith in it; and if anyone thinks I'm wrong, I am inclined to agree… — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
The study of history is useful to the historian by teaching him his ignorance of women. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
As a historian, he felt it his duty to respect everything that had ever been respected, except for the occasional statesman. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
Nothing is easier to teach than historical method, but, when learned, it has little use. — Henry Adams Copy Share Image
I am fairly tired--bored beyond endurance--by the world we live in, and its ideals, and am ready to say so, not violently, but kindly,… — Henry Adams Copy Share
“One had heard and read a great deal about death, and even seen a little of it, and knew by heart the thousand commonplaces… — Henry Adams Copy Share
The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught. — Henry Adams Copy Share
The American President resembles the commander of a ship at sea. He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port… — Henry Adams Copy Share
The proof that a philosopher does not know what he is talking about is apt to sadden his followers before it reacts on himself. — Henry Adams Copy Share
In the history of the United States, there is no continuity at all. You can cut through it anywhere and nothing on this side… — Henry Adams Copy Share
“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The… — Henry Adams Copy Share
If I grapple with sin in my own strength, the devil knows he may go to sleep. — Henry Adams Copy Share
All State education is a sort of dynamo machine for polarizing the popular mind; for turning and holding its lines of force in the… — Henry Adams Copy Share
You may cut off the heads of every rich man now living--of every statesman--every literary, and every scientific authority, without in the least changing… — Henry Adams Copy Share
History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated. — Henry Adams Copy Share
The philosopher says--I am, and the church scouts his philosophy. She answers:--No! you are NOT, you have no existence of your own. You were… — Henry Adams Copy Share
