--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I make no apologies for any…" description: "\"I make no apologies for any inconsistencies or contradictions in my essays. Those who do not change their minds in the course of a decade have probably..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/michael-howard-30918_apology_i-make-no-apologies-for-any-inconsistenc_2670098.png" --- # I make no apologies for any inconsistencies or… ![“I make no apologies for any inconsistencies or contradictions in my essays. Those who do not change their minds in the course of a decade have probably stopped thinking all together. The true use of history, whether civil or military, is not to make man clever for the next time, it is to make him…” quote by Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/michael-howard-30918_apology_i-make-no-apologies-for-any-inconsistenc_2670098.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/michael-howard-30918_apology_i-make-no-apologies-for-any-inconsistenc_2670098.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/michael-howard-30918_apology_i-make-no-apologies-for-any-inconsistenc_2670098.png) > “I make no apologies for any inconsistencies or contradictions in my essays. Those who do not change their minds in the course of a decade have probably stopped thinking all together. The true use of history, whether civil or military, is not to make man clever for the next time, it is to make him wise forever.” [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History should teach timeless wisdom, not just clever tactics. **In simple terms:** History offers lasting wisdom. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom from history. Themes history wisdom learning Mood thoughtful reflective Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - education curricula - policy analysis - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy of history critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What wisdom have you learned? - How do you apply it today? A Different Perspective Historical lessons can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Contradictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictions/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Inconsistencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistencies/) [Inconsistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistency/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [If a man would register all his opinions upon love, politics, religion, learning etc., beginning from his youth, and so go to old age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/if-a-man-would-register-all-his-opinions-upon-love-politics-religion/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I'm as proud of my inconsistencies as I am my consistencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/i-m-as-proud-of-my-inconsistencies-as-i-am-my-consistencies/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [The more I see of the world, the more am i dissatisfied with it; and everyday confirms my belief of the inconsistencies of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-more-i-see-of-the-world-the-more-am-i-dissatisfied-with-it-and-3/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [There are no inconsistencies in the Discworld books; ocassionally, however, there are alternate pasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-are-no-inconsistencies-in-the-discworld-books-ocassionally/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The personality is defined by its inconsistencies, not its consistencies. It's what makes us unique and who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-personality-is-defined-by-its-inconsistencies-not-its/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [It's the real world, full of gaps and inconsistencies and anticlimaxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-s-the-real-world-full-of-gaps-and-inconsistencies-and-anticlimaxes/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Nature is full for us of seeming inconsistencies and glad surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-e-barber/nature-is-full-for-us-of-seeming-inconsistencies-and-glad-surprises/) Margaret E. Barber > [That decision to commit your life to certain principles and a certain narrative, if I wrote a paper on that, I know I'd find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-stone/that-decision-to-commit-your-life-to-certain-principles-and-a-certain/) [Matt Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-stone/) > [Inconsistencies in men are generally testimony to their immaturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/inconsistencies-in-men-are-generally-testimony-to-their-immaturity/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [Unfortunately, the American justice system is just riddled with lies and inconsistencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/unfortunately-the-american-justice-system-is-just-riddled-with-lies/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [Tolstoy's so-called inconsistencies were a sign of his development and his passionate regard for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/tolstoy-s-so-called-inconsistencies-were-a-sign-of-his-development/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Among the many inconsistencies which folly produces or infirmity suffers in the human mind, there has often been observed a manifest and striking contrariety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-the-many-inconsistencies-which-folly-produces-or-infirmity/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Reports by Politico, Bloomberg and other news outlets have raised inconsistencies in Melania Trump's immigration story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audie-cornish/reports-by-politico-bloomberg-and-other-news-outlets-have-raised/) [Audie Cornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audie-cornish/) > [There are inconsistencies in Donald Trump's ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/there-are-inconsistencies-in-donald-trump-s-ideology/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [Inconsistencies cannot both be right; but, imputed to man, they may both be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/inconsistencies-cannot-both-be-right-but-imputed-to-man-they-may-both/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More by Michael Howard > [ We cannot possibly take them all into this country \[asylum seekers\] - it is a completely unrealistic expectation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/we-cannot-possibly-take-them-all-into-this-country-asylum-seekers-it/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [There is only one opinion poll that I am interested in and that is the one that will take place on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/there-is-only-one-opinion-poll-that-i-am-interested-in-and-that-is/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [What is Parliament for if it is not to be a means to make ministers accountable for the services for which they are responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/what-is-parliament-for-if-it-is-not-to-be-a-means-to-make-ministers/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [A common language is the most obvious binding element in any society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/a-common-language-is-the-most-obvious-binding-element-in-any-society/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [I believe abortion should be available to everyone, but the law should be changed. In the past I voted for a restriction to 22…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/i-believe-abortion-should-be-available-to-everyone-but-the-law-should/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [We're not saying, 'We're politicians, trust us.' We know you don't trust us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/we-re-not-saying-we-re-politicians-trust-us-we-know-you-don-t-trust-us/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [I will never stand again for the leadership of the Conservative Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/i-will-never-stand-again-for-the-leadership-of-the-conservative-party/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [I am happy to debate the past with the Prime Minister... I have a big dossier on his past, and I did not even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/i-am-happy-to-debate-the-past-with-the-prime-minister-i-have-a-big/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [People often of masterful intelligence, trained usually in law or economics or perhaps in political science, who have led their governments into disastrous decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/people-often-of-masterful-intelligence-trained-usually-in-law-or/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [So long as the international community consists of sovereign states, war between them remains a possibility, of which all governments have to take reasonable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/so-long-as-the-international-community-consists-of-sovereign-states/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [We must rediscover the habit of thinking the best of each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/we-must-rediscover-the-habit-of-thinking-the-best-of-each-other/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [The true use of history, whether civil or military, is not to make man clever for the next time, it is to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/the-true-use-of-history-whether-civil-or-military-is-not-to-make-man/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [History is what we read, write and think about the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/history-is-what-we-read-write-and-think-about-the-past/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [Let us be clear. Prison works. It ensures that we are protected from murderers, muggers and rapists, and it makes many who are tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/let-us-be-clear-prison-works-it-ensures-that-we-are-protected-from/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) > [The important thing when you are going to do something brave is to have someone on hand to witness it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/the-important-thing-when-you-are-going-to-do-something-brave-is-to/) [Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) [Explore all 17 Michael Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/) ## More Apology quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) Elizabeth Tambascio > [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/) [Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) Allison Pataki > [And apologies, once postponed, become harder and harder to make, and finally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/and-apologies-once-postponed-become-harder-and-harder-to-make-and/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Apologizing does not always mean you are wrong, it just means that value your relationships more than your ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier-bennett/apologizing-does-not-always-mean-you-are-wrong-it-just-means-that/) [Chinier Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier-bennett/) > [If I can get enough signatures, to present an apology to slavery, I will present it to the President. The House of Representatives has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/if-i-can-get-enough-signatures-to-present-an-apology-to-slavery-i/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [“I don’t care if you’ve changed. I don’t care who you are now. I don’t need or want your explanations because what you did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-don-t-care-if-you-ve-changed-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-now-i-don-t/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. This is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-greatest-form-of-maturity-is-at-harvest-time-this-is-when-we-must/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“It's clear he still feels something, but what? Is the whole reason he made such a big deal about wanting to talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-heywood/it-s-clear-he-still-feels-something-but-what-is-the-whole-reason-he/) [Carey Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-heywood/) > [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) [Browse all 1,300 Apology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I make no apologies for any inconsistencies or contradictions in my essays. Those who do not change their minds in the course of a decade have probably stopped thinking all together. 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