--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps I just feel safer with the…" description: "\"“Perhaps I just feel safer with the history that’s been more or less agreed upon. Or perhaps it’s that same paradox again: the history that happens und..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/julian-barnes-522_history_perhaps-i-just-feel-safer-with-the-histo_1208282.jpg" --- # Perhaps I just feel safer with the history that’s been… ![“Perhaps I just feel safer with the history that’s been more or less agreed upon. Or perhaps it’s that same paradox again: the history that happens underneath our noses ought to be the clearest, and yet it’s the most deliquescent. We live in time, it bounds us and defines us, and time is supposed…” quote by Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/julian-barnes-522_history_perhaps-i-just-feel-safer-with-the-histo_1208282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/julian-barnes-522_history_perhaps-i-just-feel-safer-with-the-histo_1208282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/julian-barnes-522_history_perhaps-i-just-feel-safer-with-the-histo_1208282.jpg) > ““Perhaps I just feel safer with the history that’s been more or less agreed upon. Or perhaps it’s that same paradox again: the history that happens underneath our noses ought to be the clearest, and yet it’s the most deliquescent. We live in time, it bounds us and defines us, and time is supposed to measure history, isn’t it? But if we can’t understand time, can’t grasp its mysteries of pace and progress, what chance do we have with history - even our own small, personal, largely undocumented piece of it? And it ought to be obvious to us that time doesn’t act as a fixative, rather as a solvent. But it’s not convenient - it’s not useful - to believe this; it doesn’t help us get on with our lives; so we ignore it.”” [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that time is fluid, dissolving history rather than preserving it, making personal narratives hard to grasp. **In simple terms:** Time dissolves history, making personal stories unclear. Key Takeaway Accept time’s fluidity and focus on present actions. Themes time history perception memory philosophy Mood reflective philosophical melancholic Type analytical contemplative When to use this quote - personal memoir writing - historical research - life planning - psychological coping Key Concepts fluidity solvent metaphor decay subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing time’s fluidity change your view of personal history? - Can we ever truly capture fleeting moments? A Different Perspective Time cannot be fully measured, limiting precise historical understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We live in time, it bounds us and defines us, and time is supposed to measure history, isn't it? But if we can't understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/we-live-in-time-it-bounds-us-and-defines-us-and-time-is-supposed-to/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Time doesn’t exist. Pardon me? Time. It doesn’t exist. Did you know that? No. Sometimes it seems like it’s all that’s real. Like time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagamese/time-doesn-t-exist-pardon-me-time-it-doesn-t-exist-did-you-know-that/) [Richard Wagamese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagamese/) > [“The history of the last half century is accordingly in large measure a history of financial titans, whose methods were not scrutinized with too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-history-of-the-last-half-century-is-accordingly-in-large-measure/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“The tombstone of coinage, arguably the most important measure in history, could read: Born Lydia, Anatolia, 7th century B.C. Died Washington, D.C., 20th century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bemelmans-marciano/the-tombstone-of-coinage-arguably-the-most-important-measure-in/) [John Bemelmans Marciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bemelmans-marciano/) > [History isn't the lies of the victors, as I once glibly assured Old Joe Hunt; I know that now. It's more the memories of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/history-isn-t-the-lies-of-the-victors-as-i-once-glibly-assured-old/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [History isn't what happened, history is just what historians tell us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/history-isn-t-what-happened-history-is-just-what-historians-tell-us/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [That's one of the central problems of history, isn't it, sir? The question of subjective versus objective interpretation, the fact that we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/that-s-one-of-the-central-problems-of-history-isn-t-it-sir-the/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of characters had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [History ... isn't simply what has happened. It's a judgment on what has happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/history-isn-t-simply-what-has-happened-it-s-a-judgment-on-what-has/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [“Who was it said that memory is what we thought we'd forgotten? And it ought to be obvious to us that time doesn't act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/who-was-it-said-that-memory-is-what-we-thought-we-d-forgotten-and-it/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [History happens as soon as I pick up my coffee cup - it happened 30 seconds ago. It's history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/history-happens-as-soon-as-i-pick-up-my-coffee-cup-it-happened-30/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [Nothing is so clear in history that is it happens for any one thing. It seems that a lot of things come together to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/nothing-is-so-clear-in-history-that-is-it-happens-for-any-one-thing/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [“At best Americans give but a limited attention to history. Too much happens too rapidly, and before we can evaluate it, or exhaust its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/at-best-americans-give-but-a-limited-attention-to-history-too-much/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [History always happens to us and nothing ever stays the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/history-always-happens-to-us-and-nothing-ever-stays-the-same/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [Every tech story is different. Every moment in history happens only once. All successful companies are successful in their own unique way. It's your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/every-tech-story-is-different-every-moment-in-history-happens-only/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) ## More by Julian Barnes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/the-greatest-patriotism-is-to-tell-your-country-when-it-is-behaving/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“There is only good vodka and very good vodka—there is no such thing as bad vodka.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/there-is-only-good-vodka-and-very-good-vodka-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Alice Munro can move characters through time in a way that no other writer can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/alice-munro-can-move-characters-through-time-in-a-way-that-no-other/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [How rarely do our emotions meet the object they seem to deserve? How hopelessly we signal; how dark the sky; how big the waves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/how-rarely-do-our-emotions-meet-the-object-they-seem-to-deserve-how/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You put together two people who have not been put together before. Sometimes it is like that first attempt to harness a hydrogen balloon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-people-who-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Also, when you are young, you think you can predict the likely pains and bleaknesses that age might bring. You imagine yourself being lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/also-when-you-are-young-you-think-you-can-predict-the-likely-pains/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Why slum it where people were burdened by yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that? By history? Here, on the Island,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/why-slum-it-where-people-were-burdened-by-yesterday-and-the-day/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“In those years before mobile phones, email and Skype, travelers depended on the rudimentary communications system known as the postcard. Other methods--the long-distance phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/in-those-years-before-mobile-phones-email-and-skype-travelers/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“My train was late, slowed by the usual Sunday engineering work. I got home in the early evening. I remember that I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/my-train-was-late-slowed-by-the-usual-sunday-engineering-work-i-got/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [In life, every ending is just the start of another story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/in-life-every-ending-is-just-the-start-of-another-story/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Indeed, isn’t the whole business of ascribing responsibility kind of a cop-out? We want to blame an individual so that everyone else is exculpated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/indeed-isn-t-the-whole-business-of-ascribing-responsibility-kind-of-a/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Some of the freckles I once loved are now closer to liver spots. But it’s still the eyes we look at, isn’t it? That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/some-of-the-freckles-i-once-loved-are-now-closer-to-liver-spots-but/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“And what percentage of people take up the option to die off?’ She looked at me, her glance telling me to be calm. ‘Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/and-what-percentage-of-people-take-up-the-option-to-die-off-she/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) [Explore all 454 Julian Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) ## More History quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. 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A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [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 NBA is my history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/the-nba-is-my-history/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Things live and die, and then someone processes them into edible portions. This is a complete telling of the story, 'Food.' The basic plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fahrenthold/things-live-and-die-and-then-someone-processes-them-into-edible/) [David Fahrenthold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fahrenthold/) > [History is a certain way, but you just change the point of view a little bit, and you discover a whole new side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/history-is-a-certain-way-but-you-just-change-the-point-of-view-a/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Today is a reality, tomorrow's a promise, and yesterday's history!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-blanks/today-is-a-reality-tomorrow-s-a-promise-and-yesterday-s-history/) [Billy Blanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-blanks/) > [Truth be told from compulsive liars with a history/Everything must change 2nd chances are a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/truth-be-told-from-compulsive-liars-with-a-history-everything-must/) C-DASH > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) [Browse all 27,263 History quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps I just feel safer with the history that’s been more or less agreed upon. Or perhaps it’s that same paradox again: the history that happens underneath our noses ought to be the clearest, and yet it’s the most deliquescent. We live in time, it bounds us and defines us, and time is supposed to measure history, isn’t it? But if we can’t understand time, can’t grasp its mysteries of pace and progress, what chance do we have with history - even our own small, personal, largely undocumented piece of it? And it ought to be obvious to us that time doesn’t act as a fixative, rather as a solvent. 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