Skip to content

History Quote by Ian Buruma

“It is always easier, particularly in what was once a deeply religious country, to erect memorials and deliver sermons than to look the angel of history directly in the face.” quote by Ian Buruma
Download Open image
““It is always easier, particularly in what was once a deeply religious country, to erect memorials and deliver sermons than to look the angel of history directly in the face.””

Ian Buruma

About This Quote

Source Essay: “The Angel of History” in The New York Review of Books, 2015

It is easier to build monuments and give speeches than to confront harsh historical truths directly.

In simple terms: People prefer symbolic gestures over facing difficult history.

Key Takeaway

Confront history rather than just memorialize.

Themes

history memory politics

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

  • public commemorations
  • education curricula
  • media coverage
  • political rhetoric

Key Concepts

collective denial symbolic action

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do societies avoid confronting painful pasts?
  • What role should monuments play in education?
A Different Perspective

Memorials can become substitutes for genuine reflection.

4.1 out of 5 (4 ratings)

More by Ian Buruma

Explore all 8 Ian Buruma quotes

More History quotes

Browse all 27,264 History quotes