--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always thought that if I had been…" description: "\"“I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history more constantly, instead of losing my time in studies for which I had no aptness, I m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg" --- # I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read… ![“I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history more constantly, instead of losing my time in studies for which I had no aptness, I might ave made some figure in the world” quote by Louis de Rouvroy Saint-Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg) > ““I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history more constantly, instead of losing my time in studies for which I had no aptness, I might ave made some figure in the world”” Louis de Rouvroy Saint-Simon ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Frequent reading of history could inspire meaningful contributions, unlike unrelated studies. **In simple terms:** Reading history often inspires achievements more than unrelated studies. Key Takeaway Read history to inform your ambitions. Themes history education self-improvement ambition learning Mood inspirational thoughtful Type historical personal development When to use this quote - career planning - academic choices - personal development Key Concepts historical perspective personal growth motivation Questions to Reflect On - What historical lessons can you apply today? - How do you balance reading with action? A Different Perspective Historical knowledge alone doesn't guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“She would never, she thought, be allowed to enjoy a moments pleasure without an eternity of pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonya-hurley/she-would-never-she-thought-be-allowed-to-enjoy-a-moments-pleasure/) [Tonya Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonya-hurley/) > [The truth is that history constantly presents new problems in the guise of old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pfaff/the-truth-is-that-history-constantly-presents-new-problems-in-the/) [William Pfaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pfaff/) > [History is constantly repeating itself, making only such changes of programme as the growth of nations and centuries requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/history-is-constantly-repeating-itself-making-only-such-changes-of/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [What would happen if history could be rewritten as casually as erasing a blackboard? Our past would be like the shifting sands at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/what-would-happen-if-history-could-be-rewritten-as-casually-as/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [History constantly reminds us that in an uncertain world there is no visibility of prospects. Future earnings cannot be predicted with accuracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dreman/history-constantly-reminds-us-that-in-an-uncertain-world-there-is-no/) [David Dreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dreman/) > [I still carry the residue of the pressure I felt as a child to read and appreciate the right books. Growing up, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/i-still-carry-the-residue-of-the-pressure-i-felt-as-a-child-to-read/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [Life a book that we are not allowed to read before living, but only to anticipate what is written one, three, maybe ten pages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/life-a-book-that-we-are-not-allowed-to-read-before-living-but-only-to/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [Hell must be a place where you are only allowed to read what you agree with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/hell-must-be-a-place-where-you-are-only-allowed-to-read-what-you/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“It didn’t come from the Government down. There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship, to start with, no! Technology, mass exploitation, and minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/it-didn-t-come-from-the-government-down-there-was-no-dictum-no-2/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [And may I not be allowed to ... read in the character of the American people, in their devotion to true liberty and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/and-may-i-not-be-allowed-to-read-in-the-character-of-the-american/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [My life is an open book , but ur not allowed to read it !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-don-gotta-know/my-life-is-an-open-book-but-ur-not-allowed-to-read-it/) U Don Gotta Know > [We are all of us born with a letter inside us, and that only if we are true to ourselves, may we be allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/we-are-all-of-us-born-with-a-letter-inside-us-and-that-only-if-we-are/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [My life as an open book , but ur not allowed to read it !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-don-t-gotta-know/my-life-as-an-open-book-but-ur-not-allowed-to-read-it/) U Don't Gotta Know > [“The worst thing to tell a free people in a country that's still mostly free is that they are not allowed to read something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/the-worst-thing-to-tell-a-free-people-in-a-country-that-s-still/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [“loved coming here. It always felt so…safe. I was allowed to read any book I wanted. No one interrupted me, or if they did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/loved-coming-here-it-always-felt-so-safe-i-was-allowed-to-read-any/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) ## 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. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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": "“I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history more constantly, instead of losing my time in studies for which I had no aptness, I might ave made some figure in the world”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis de Rouvroy Saint-Simon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon/i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been-allowed-to-read-history-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "History" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon/i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been-allowed-to-read-history-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd1/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon-2_history_i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been_1377286.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have always thought that if I had been allowed to read history more constantly, instead of losing my time…” — Louis de Rouvroy Saint-Simon", "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": "Louis de Rouvroy Saint-Simon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I have always thought that if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon/i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been-allowed-to-read-history-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-rouvroy-saint-simon/i-have-always-thought-that-if-i-had-been-allowed-to-read-history-more/#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 } } ] } ```