Commonplace Quote by Thomas Hardy

“A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it…

— Barbara W. Tuchman

Often the presence of mind and energy of a person remote from the spotlight decide the course of history for centuries to come.

— Stefan Zweig

“For those under the age of 45 it seemed that world events had finally contrived a meaningful test of their capacity for conscientious political…

— Joseph O'Neill

“The moment historians examine the past they risk changing it, by selectively re-arranging events, consciously or not, according to the judgment(s) of posterity or…

— Paul Ham

The same contingencies of time and space that force a statesman or soldier to make decisions, impel the historian, though with less urgency, to…

— Anonymous

I have started to think that the great, decisive moments that broadly govern our lives are far less conscious at the time than they…

— Sándor Márai

There are certain moments in the history of a nation when the choices made define the decades to come.

— George Papandreou

“One person's actions can alter the course of history, and a political or military mischance can touch off a catastrophic reaction that has repercussions…

— Timothy Venning

It is not always possible to know, when you make a note of an event, or a state of mind, how this may strike…

— Doris Lessing

You have reckoned that history ought to judge the past and to instruct the contemporary world as to the future. The present attempt does…

— Leopold von Ranke

To history has been assigned the office of judging the past, of instructing the present for the benefit of future ages. To such high…

— Leopold von Ranke

Before this address to my countrymen is closed, I beg leave to observe, that as a new century has dawned upon us, the mind…

— Mercy Otis Warren