--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History, insofar as it accustoms human…" description: "\"History, insofar as it accustoms human beings to comprehend the whole of the past and to hasten forward with its conclusions into the far future, conce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png" --- # History, insofar as it accustoms human beings to… ![“History, insofar as it accustoms human beings to comprehend the whole of the past and to hasten forward with its conclusions into the far future, conceals the boundaries of birth and death, which enclose the life of the human being so narrowly and oppressively, and with a kind of optical illusion…” quote by Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png) > “History, insofar as it accustoms human beings to comprehend the whole of the past and to hasten forward with its conclusions into the far future, conceals the boundaries of birth and death, which enclose the life of the human being so narrowly and oppressively, and with a kind of optical illusion, expands his short existence into endless space, leading the individual imperceptibly over into humanity.” [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History expands personal perception of time, turning a short life into a sense of infinite continuity within humanity. **In simple terms:** History makes life feel longer and connected. Key Takeaway Use history to see your life in a broader context. Themes history time identity humanity perception Mood thoughtful inspired introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - education - career planning - personal growth - legacy building Key Concepts philosophy psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does history shape your self‑view? - How can you balance personal goals with humanity’s story? A Different Perspective Risk of feeling insignificant in the vast timeline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Birth and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth-and-death/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Boundaries Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries-birth-2888034/) [Conceals Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceals-boundaries-2888032/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Endless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Insofar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-insofar-2888030/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusion Expands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-expands-2888031/) [Imperceptibly Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperceptibly-humanity-2888033/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Optical illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optical-illusions/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [The straight line, a respectable optical illusion which ruins many a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-straight-line-a-respectable-optical-illusion-which-ruins-many-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Mission impossible completed, obstacles of optical illusions, we dont really see em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mission-impossible-completed-obstacles-of-optical-illusions-we-dont/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who have realized that this is a dream imagine that it is easy to wake up, and are angry with those who continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/people-who-have-realized-that-this-is-a-dream-imagine-that-it-is-easy/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [We're left with so little to go on. Only the present is full enough to seem complete, and even that is an optical illusion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-vladislavi/we-re-left-with-so-little-to-go-on-only-the-present-is-full-enough-to/) [Ivan Vladislavic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-vladislavi/) > [The boundary between science fiction and social reality is an optical illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-j-haraway/the-boundary-between-science-fiction-and-social-reality-is-an-optical/) [Donna J. Haraway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-j-haraway/) > [I've never really had a waist. Even when I was at my slimmest, my silhouette was very straight up, straight down. But I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-ve-never-really-had-a-waist-even-when-i-was-at-my-slimmest-my/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [If a man proves too clearly and convincingly to himself...that a tiger is an optical illusion--well, he will find out he is wrong. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/if-a-man-proves-too-clearly-and-convincingly-to-himself-that-a-tiger/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Our perceptions are fallible. We sometimes see what isn't there. We are prey to optical illusions. Occasionally we hallucinate. We are error-prone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/our-perceptions-are-fallible-we-sometimes-see-what-isn-t-there-we-are/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I was fascinated with optical illusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-was-fascinated-with-optical-illusions/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There’s no cure for ugly, but you can make yourself into a human optical illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-marbles/there-s-no-cure-for-ugly-but-you-can-make-yourself-into-a-human/) [Jenna Marbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-marbles/) > [Love is an optical illusion that makes you believe the object of your affection is the most beautiful person in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/love-is-an-optical-illusion-that-makes-you-believe-the-object-of-your/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) > [Beauty is the result of clarity and system and not of optical illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-de-velde/beauty-is-the-result-of-clarity-and-system-and-not-of-optical-illusion/) [Henry van de Velde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-de-velde/) > [Our separation from each other is an optical illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/our-separation-from-each-other-is-an-optical-illusion/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The mistakes we make when we try to imagine our personal futures are also lawful, regular, and systematic. They, too, have a pattern that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/the-mistakes-we-make-when-we-try-to-imagine-our-personal-futures-are/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [While we only look at Nature it is fair to say that Autumn is the end of the year; but it is still more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/while-we-only-look-at-nature-it-is-fair-to-say-that-autumn-is-the-end/) [Karel Capek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/) ## More by Friedrich Schiller > [An axe at home saves hiring a carpenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/an-axe-at-home-saves-hiring-a-carpenter/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is well for a man when he has learned to endure what he cannot change, and to give up with dignity what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-well-for-a-man-when-he-has-learned-to-endure-what-he-cannot/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [I have enjoyed the happiness of the world; I have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/i-have-enjoyed-the-happiness-of-the-world-i-have-loved/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is easy to give advice from a port of safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-easy-to-give-advice-from-a-port-of-safety/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Why should I deem myself to be a chisel, when I could be the artist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/why-should-i-deem-myself-to-be-a-chisel-when-i-could-be-the-artist/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [It is through beauty that we arrive at freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/it-is-through-beauty-that-we-arrive-at-freedom/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The first great law is to obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-first-great-law-is-to-obey/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [To gain a crown by fighting is great, to reject it divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/to-gain-a-crown-by-fighting-is-great-to-reject-it-divine/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Even the weak become strong when they are united.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/even-the-weak-become-strong-when-they-are-united/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/man-only-plays-when-in-the-full-meaning-of-the-word-he-is-a-man-and/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Ah, to that far distant strand Bridge there was not to convey, Not a bark was near at hand, Yet true love soon found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/ah-to-that-far-distant-strand-bridge-there-was-not-to-convey-not-a/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/a-gloomy-guest-fits-not-a-wedding-feast/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [If you have never seen beauty in a moment of suffering, you have never seen beauty at all. If you have never seen joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/if-you-have-never-seen-beauty-in-a-moment-of-suffering-you-have-never/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Fear of death is worse than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/fear-of-death-is-worse-than-dying/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [The dream is short, repentance long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-dream-is-short-repentance-long/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) [Explore all 350 Friedrich Schiller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) ## More Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) [Adam Imad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-imad/) > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) [Roxanne Shante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-shante/) > [“A Beautiful verse takes birth when "U"n"I" VERSE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-walecha/a-beautiful-verse-takes-birth-when-u-n-i-verse/) [Rajesh Walecha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-walecha/) > [“There is no born evil, only a corruptible canvas darkened by a formidable perpetrator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yefon-isabelle/there-is-no-born-evil-only-a-corruptible-canvas-darkened-by-a/) [Yefon Isabelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yefon-isabelle/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) [Browse all 6,183 Birth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "History, insofar as it accustoms human beings to comprehend the whole of the past and to hasten forward with its conclusions into the far future, conceals the boundaries of birth and death, which enclose the life of the human being so narrowly and oppressively, and with a kind of optical illusion, expands his short existence into endless space, leading the individual imperceptibly over into humanity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Friedrich Schiller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-beings-to-comprehend-the-whole/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Birth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-beings-to-comprehend-the-whole/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/friedrich-schiller-832_birth_history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-be_1912381.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“History, insofar as it accustoms human beings to comprehend the whole of the past and to hasten forward with…” — Friedrich Schiller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Friedrich Schiller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "History, insofar as it accustoms human...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-beings-to-comprehend-the-whole/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/history-insofar-as-it-accustoms-human-beings-to-comprehend-the-whole/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```