Books Quote by Richard Ellmann
“Historians of literature like to regard a century as a series of ten faces, each grimacing in a different way.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lives of the Poets, 1975
Literary historians view a century as ten distinct “faces,” each expressing a unique grimace.
In simple terms: History shows ten different moods each century.
Key Takeaway
Identify the varied cultural tones of any era.
Themes
history
literature
culture
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
historical
literary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- museum curation
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
anthropology
sociology
Questions to Reflect On
- Which “face” dominates today?
- How do multiple narratives coexist?
A Different Perspective
Simplification may overlook overlapping trends.
![“I have learned more [from Balzac] than from all the professional historians, economists, and statisticians put together.” quote by Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/22f/friedrich-engels-8301_balzac_i-have-learned-more-from-balzac-than-fro_62197.jpg)
