--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is history? Its beginning is that of…" description: "\"What is history? Its beginning is that of the centuries of systematic work devoted to the solution of the enigma of death, so that death itself may eve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/boris-pasternak-1944_beginning_what-is-history-its-beginning-is-that-of_1237390.png" --- # What is history? Its beginning is that of the centuries of… ![“What is history? Its beginning is that of the centuries of systematic work devoted to the solution of the enigma of death, so that death itself may eventually be overcome. That is why people write symphonies, and why they discover mathematical infinity and electromagnetic waves.” quote by Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/boris-pasternak-1944_beginning_what-is-history-its-beginning-is-that-of_1237390.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/boris-pasternak-1944_beginning_what-is-history-its-beginning-is-that-of_1237390.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/boris-pasternak-1944_beginning_what-is-history-its-beginning-is-that-of_1237390.png) > “What is history? Its beginning is that of the centuries of systematic work devoted to the solution of the enigma of death, so that death itself may eventually be overcome. That is why people write symphonies, and why they discover mathematical infinity and electromagnetic waves.” [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity seeks to conquer death through art, science, and enduring work. **In simple terms:** People try to beat death with creation. Key Takeaway Pursue lasting contributions. Themes mortality legacy creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - artistic creation - scientific research - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts existentialism humanism Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you wish to leave? - How does confronting mortality shape your actions? A Different Perspective Overcoming death may be impossible; focus on meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doctor zhivago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor-zhivago/) [Electromagnetic waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electromagnetic-waves/) [Enigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enigma/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Now what is history? It is the centuries of systematic explorations of the riddle of death, with a view to overcoming death. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/now-what-is-history-it-is-the-centuries-of-systematic-explorations-of-2/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [If I weren't the way I am, I shouldn't write my symphonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-mahler/if-i-weren-t-the-way-i-am-i-shouldn-t-write-my-symphonies/) [Gustav Mahler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-mahler/) > [I don't like purely philosophical works. I think a little philosophy should be added to life and art by way of seasoning, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/i-don-t-like-purely-philosophical-works-i-think-a-little-philosophy/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“It was partly the war, the revolution did the rest. The war was an artificial break in life-- as if life could be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/it-was-partly-the-war-the-revolution-did-the-rest-the-war-was-an/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“They loved each other because everything around them willed it, the trees, and the clouds, and the sky over their heads, and the earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/they-loved-each-other-because-everything-around-them-willed-it-the/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [It's only in bad novels that people are divided into two camps and have nothing to do with each other. In real life everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/it-s-only-in-bad-novels-that-people-are-divided-into-two-camps-and/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“They loved each other greatly. Most people experience love, without noticing that there is anything remarkable about it. To them - and this made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/they-loved-each-other-greatly-most-people-experience-love-without/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“You don't understand that one can be an atheist, one can not know whether God exists or why, and at the same time know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/you-don-t-understand-that-one-can-be-an-atheist-one-can-not-know/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“Now what is history? It is the centuries of systematic explorations of the riddle of death, with a view to overcoming death. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/now-what-is-history-it-is-the-centuries-of-systematic-explorations-of/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“Wine has been present in history since the beginning of mankind, and through our moments of weakness and strength, bringing us closer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miro-popic/wine-has-been-present-in-history-since-the-beginning-of-mankind-and/) [Miro Popic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miro-popic/) > [I have thoroughly gone through the subject of the Incarnation; and if it served you, could at any time give you the history from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-irving/i-have-thoroughly-gone-through-the-subject-of-the-incarnation-and-if/) [Edward Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-irving/) > [“In the long run, even a tyrannical government only has the power that the people confer on it and coming to understand history is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nilantha-ilangamuwa/in-the-long-run-even-a-tyrannical-government-only-has-the-power-that/) [Nilantha Ilangamuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nilantha-ilangamuwa/) > [God grant that this is the work of the Communists. 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The more we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/no-deep-and-strong-feeling-such-as-we-may-come-across-here-and-there/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [She was here on earth to make sense of its wild enchantments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/she-was-here-on-earth-to-make-sense-of-its-wild-enchantments/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [Art has two constant, two unending concerns: It always meditates on death and thus always creates life. 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It will also be necessary to bend down to hear it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/i-come-here-to-speak-poetry-it-will-always-be-in-the-grass-it-will/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“I'll stay with you a little, my unforgettable delight, for as long as my arms and my hands and my lips remember you. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/i-ll-stay-with-you-a-little-my-unforgettable-delight-for-as-long-as/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [If it's so painful to love and absorb electricity, how much more painful it is to be a woman, to be the electricity, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/if-it-s-so-painful-to-love-and-absorb-electricity-how-much-more/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [I don't like purely philosophical works. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. 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