Ask yourself Quote by L.M. Montgomery
““I'm sure I'll like studying history after this," said Emily; "except Canadian History. I'll never like it--it's so dull. Not just at the first, when we belonged to France and there was plenty of fighting, but after that it's nothing but politics." "The happiest countries, like the happiest women, have no history," said Dean. "I hope I'll have a history," cried Emily. "I want a thrilling career." "We all do, foolish one. Do you know what makes history? Pain--and shame--and rebellion--and bloodshed and heartache. Star, ask yourself how many hearts ached--and broke--to make those crimson and purple pages in history that you find so enthralling. I told you the story of Leonidas and his Spartans the other day. They had mothers, sisters and sweethearts. If they could have fought a bloodless battle at the polls wouldn't it have been better--if not so dramatic.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery, 1923
History is often seen as dull, yet its true value lies in the emotional and human stories behind events.
In simple terms: History's value is in human stories, not just facts.
Key Takeaway
Seek the human side of history.
Themes
history
education
emotion
identity
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- teaching
- personal research
- creative writing
- museum curation
Key Concepts
narrative
human experience
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we make history engaging without sensationalism?
- What personal stories illuminate larger historical trends?
A Different Perspective
Focusing only on drama can oversimplify complex events.
![“[Stephen] Harper had said he would use all legal means, and what [John] Baird suggested was an option the prome minister was considering. If the governor general had refused his request, he could have replaced her with a more compliant one, making the case to the Queen that the people of Canada…” quote by Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a0/lawrence-martin-40750_canada_stephen-harper-had-said-he-would-use-all_1053260.jpg)
