I have been interested in the 12th century since my 20s…
“I have been interested in the 12th century since my 20s when it was very fashionable to say of anybody with whom you disagreed, which was basically anybody over the age of 30, "One of the great minds of the 12th century", and one day I thought, "I don't know anything about the 12 century." So I started buying books, reading about it, and I discovered it was a period of great flowering, it was a Renaissance before what we think is the Renaissance, the Italian Renaissance of the 16th century.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Describes a personal journey of discovering the richness of the 12th‑century era after initial ignorance.
In simple terms: Learning about a forgotten era revealed its cultural flowering.
Key Takeaway
Explore history beyond assumptions.
Themes
curiosity
history
learning
humility
Mood
inquisitive
reflective
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- personal reading
- teaching
- public talks
Key Concepts
Renaissance
cultural development
historical revisionism
Questions to Reflect On
- What historical periods have you overlooked?
- How can you verify claims before sharing?
A Different Perspective
Assuming knowledge without study can perpetuate misconceptions.