--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any historian worth their salt should be…" description: "\"Any historian worth their salt should be aware of wars, conflicts, catastrophes. They happen. This is part of the panorama.\" — Norman Davies" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/norman-davies-9199_aware_any-historian-worth-their-salt-should-be_119860.jpg" --- # Any historian worth their salt should be aware of wars… ![“Any historian worth their salt should be aware of wars, conflicts, catastrophes. They happen. This is part of the panorama.” quote by Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/norman-davies-9199_aware_any-historian-worth-their-salt-should-be_119860.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/norman-davies-9199_aware_any-historian-worth-their-salt-should-be_119860.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/norman-davies-9199_aware_any-historian-worth-their-salt-should-be_119860.jpg) > “Any historian worth their salt should be aware of wars, conflicts, catastrophes. They happen. This is part of the panorama.” [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A competent historian must acknowledge that wars, conflicts, and catastrophes are inevitable parts of human history. **In simple terms:** Historians should recognize conflict as a constant. Key Takeaway Conflict is a recurring historical element. Themes history conflict catastrophe awareness Mood analytical serious Type educational historical When to use this quote - academic curricula - public policy analysis - media reporting Key Concepts historical realism Practical Applications - Include conflict studies in history education - Use past catastrophes to inform risk management Questions to Reflect On - How can historians balance inevitability with agency? - What lessons can be drawn to prevent future catastrophes? A Different Perspective Focusing on inevitability may downplay possibilities for peacebuilding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware/) [Catastrophes Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophes-happen-1399937/) [Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts/) [Conflicts Catastrophes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-catastrophes-1399936/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Salt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salt/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) [Wars Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars-conflicts-1399938/) [Worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth/) ## Related quotes > [All conflicts can be resolved. Wars and conflicts are not inevitable. They are caused by human beings. There are always interests that are furthered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martti-ahtisaari/all-conflicts-can-be-resolved-wars-and-conflicts-are-not-inevitable/) [Martti Ahtisaari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martti-ahtisaari/) > [It is a fact that many of the wars and conflicts happening all over the world are aggravated or fought strictly for geopolitical fossil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/it-is-a-fact-that-many-of-the-wars-and-conflicts-happening-all-over/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [Conflicts, even just ones, which in the end can come at the expense of the State of Israel, are things that we must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/conflicts-even-just-ones-which-in-the-end-can-come-at-the-expense-of/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [“We had no problems, no conflicts,” Mars500 Commander Sergei Ryazansky is saying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/we-had-no-problems-no-conflicts-mars500-commander-sergei-ryazansky-is/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [This is a time when the United States should be standing tall. There is no other leader in the world today. We shouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/this-is-a-time-when-the-united-states-should-be-standing-tall-there/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [The mind can be the harshest battleground. It can be the place where the greatest conflicts are carried out. Its where half of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-mind-can-be-the-harshest-battleground-it-can-be-the-place-where/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Conflicts get to us all. The difference is how you overcome them and who you overcome them with](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-wagner/conflicts-get-to-us-all-the-difference-is-how-you-overcome-them-and/) [Jacob Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-wagner/) > [“From now on, conflicts would likely be decided as a clash between one abomination and another, powers against powers. And the victor would devour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yu-godai/from-now-on-conflicts-would-likely-be-decided-as-a-clash-between-one/) [Yu Godai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yu-godai/) > [Like other conflict-affected regions, Africa continues to see religious, ethnic, and politically motivated conflicts. Extremist violence is now entrenched in several parts of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedros-adhanom/like-other-conflict-affected-regions-africa-continues-to-see/) [Tedros Adhanom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedros-adhanom/) > [“So if your Story doesn’t change your lead character irrevocably from beginning to end, no one will deeply care about it. It may entertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-coyne/so-if-your-story-doesn-t-change-your-lead-character-irrevocably-from/) [Shawn Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-coyne/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“What causes Conflict? Agnan (Delusionary knowledge, Knowledge other than the True Self).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-causes-conflict-agnan-delusionary-knowledge-knowledge-other-than/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I've been to many countries and watched a number of conflicts or their residue, and I've served in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-peters/i-ve-been-to-many-countries-and-watched-a-number-of-conflicts-or/) [Ralph Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-peters/) > [We still seek to solve conflicts with 'judgement' instead of designing the way forwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/we-still-seek-to-solve-conflicts-with-judgement-instead-of-designing/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## More by Norman Davies > [All states and nations, however great, bloom for a season and are replaced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/all-states-and-nations-however-great-bloom-for-a-season-and-are/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [The Law and Justice government does not want a bunch of foreign historians to decide what goes on in 'their' museum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/the-law-and-justice-government-does-not-want-a-bunch-of-foreign/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [For people familiar with Eastern Europe, Marci Shore's 'The Taste of Ashes' is, in spite of its subject matter, delicious. A professor at Yale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/for-people-familiar-with-eastern-europe-marci-shore-s-the-taste-of/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [The one certainly for anyone in the path of an avalanche is this: standing still is not an option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/the-one-certainly-for-anyone-in-the-path-of-an-avalanche-is-this/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [Young people have to learn in a cocoon filled with false optimism. Unlike their parents and grandparents, they grow up with very little sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/young-people-have-to-learn-in-a-cocoon-filled-with-false-optimism/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [It was in the 20th century that national sovereignty really ruled the roost, and the E.U. was formed to cure that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/it-was-in-the-20th-century-that-national-sovereignty-really-ruled-the/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [“Although the rival cereals of rye, barley,oats, buckwheat and millet have continued to exist in Europe, the triumphal march of king wheat was uncontestable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/although-the-rival-cereals-of-rye-barley-oats-buckwheat-and-millet/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [The Russian myths of the Second World War are still intact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/the-russian-myths-of-the-second-world-war-are-still-intact/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [ \[The Poles\] will die for their country; but few will work for it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/the-poles-will-die-for-their-country-but-few-will-work-for-it/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [One might have thought that 70 years was time enough to work out what really happened in 1939. It isn't the case. Misunderstandings and misinformation abound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/one-might-have-thought-that-70-years-was-time-enough-to-work-out-what/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [Our mental maps are distorted by who are the 'winners' of history and who are the powers of today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/our-mental-maps-are-distorted-by-who-are-the-winners-of-history-and/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [Historical change is like an avalanche. The starting point is a snow-covered mountainside that looks solid. All changes take place under the surface and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/historical-change-is-like-an-avalanche-the-starting-point-is-a-snow/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [I can just remember the blitz of Manchester, or perhaps my father's tales about the blitz of Manchester. I can remember the blackout, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/i-can-just-remember-the-blitz-of-manchester-or-perhaps-my-father-s/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [One of the few things that can be said for certain about Europe's prehistoric peoples is that they all came from somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/one-of-the-few-things-that-can-be-said-for-certain-about-europe-s/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [Capacity of human societies both to absorb and to discard cultures is much underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/capacity-of-human-societies-both-to-absorb-and-to-discard-cultures-is/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) [Explore all 72 Norman Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) ## More Aware quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/i-am-an-aware-citizen-so-i-want-my-characters-to-be-aware-too-they/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [I'm trying to be very aware of not repeating myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/i-m-trying-to-be-very-aware-of-not-repeating-myself/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [“Whenever you're around her she's calm. She's more aware. It's like you carry a frequency she can tune into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-laurens/whenever-you-re-around-her-she-s-calm-she-s-more-aware-it-s-like-you/) [Jennifer Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-laurens/) > [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [As all of us are only too aware, the loud and frantic voices of the outer world easily drown out the small, still loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/as-all-of-us-are-only-too-aware-the-loud-and-frantic-voices-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [Once I get out onstage, it's the same sort of basic production that it is anywhere else. But I might be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/once-i-get-out-onstage-it-s-the-same-sort-of-basic-production-that-it/) [Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/) > [Museums, I think, are becoming more and more aware of how to turn themselves into a must-see spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-barton/museums-i-think-are-becoming-more-and-more-aware-of-how-to-turn/) [Jake Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-barton/) > [“The more you become aware of and respond to the needs of others, the richer your own life becomes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-marti/the-more-you-become-aware-of-and-respond-to-the-needs-of-others-the/) [Mollie Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-marti/) [Browse all 1,138 Aware quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aware/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Any historian worth their salt should be aware of wars, conflicts, catastrophes. 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