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Quote by Barbara Tuchman

Work

Practicing History: Selected Essays

This book compiles a series of essays that delve into the methodologies and approaches used in the study of history. more

Author

Barbara Tuchman
Barbara Tuchman

Barbara Tuchman was an American historian renowned for her in-depth research and vivid narrative style. Her works covered historical events from the Roman Empire to the 20th century, with 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' and 'The Guns of August' being particularly notable. more

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“In America, where the electoral process is drowning in commercial techniques of fund-raising and image-making, we may have completed a circle back to a selection process as unconcerned with qualifications as that which made Darius King of Persia. ... he whose horse was the first to neigh at sunrise should be King.”

ShouldFirstsMayMadeGovernmentAmericaPoliticsProcessKingsHorseTechniqueCirclesFundSunriseSelectionDrowningQualificationsPersiaUnconcernedElectoral ProcessDarius
Author:Barbara Tuchman
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“Wooden-headedness, the source of self-deception, is a factor that plays a remarkably large role in government. It consists in assessing a situation in terms of preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs. It is acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts.”

ThinkingSelfPlayFactsGovernmentWishTermActingSituationRolesSourceNotionOneselfContraryFactorsDeceptionFixedAllowingSelf DeceptionWishful ThinkingRejectingAssessing
Book:The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam
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“Policy is formed by preconceptions, by long implanted biases. When information is relayed to policy-makers, they respond in terms of what is already inside their heads and consequently make policy less to fit the facts than to fit the notions and intentions formed out of the mental baggage that has accumulated in their minds since childhood.”

MindLongFactsGovernmentTermChildhoodInformationPolicyFitIntentionNotionMakersBaggagePreconceptionsPolicy Makers
Author:Barbara Tuchman
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