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History Quotes

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History Quotes

“[Among the books he chooses, a statesman] ought to read interesting books on history and government, and books of science and philosophy; and really good books on these subjects are as enthralling as any fiction ever written in prose or verse.”

Book Philosophy Government Science Interesting Fiction History Written Subjects Ought Accounts Prose Verses Good Book Statesmen Science And Philosophy Interesting Book

Book:Bully!

Source: Bully!

“Of the various forms of government which have prevailed in the world, an hereditary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for ridicule.”

World Seems Government Form History Various Ridicule Scope Monarchy Forms Of Government Roman Empire Monarchs Hereditary Constitutional Monarchy British Monarchy

Book:The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.”

Government Political Politics Freedom Teach History Conservative

Book:Maxims and Reflections

Source: Maxims and Reflections

“Every man that tried to destroy the Government, every man that shot at the holy flag in heaven, every man that starved our soldiers... every man that wanted to burn the negro, every one that wanted to scatter yellow fever in the North, every man that opposed human liberty, that regarded the auction-block as an altar and the howling of the bloodhound as the music of the Union, every man who wept over the corpse of slavery, that thought lashes on the naked back were a legal tender for labour performed, every one willing to rob a mother of her child - every solitary one was a Democrat.”

“If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.”

Ifs World Writing Government Nations Views History Generations Deserve World History

Book:Between Myth and Morning: Women Awakening

Source: Between Myth and Morning: Women Awakening

“The Declaration of Independence is the all-time masterpiece of ideological simplification. There in a single sentence of self-evident truth, the founding Fathers put into clear, easily understandable focus, the broad basis of man's relationship to God, to government, and to his fellow man.”

“The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of government. During a happy period (A.D. 98-180) of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines.”

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“That public virtue which among the ancients was denominated patriotism, is derived from a strong sense of our own interest in the preservation and prosperity of the free government of which we are members. Such a sentiment, which had rendered the legions of the republic almost invincible, could make but a very feeble impression on the mercenary servants of a despotic prince; and it became necessary to supply that defect by other motives, of a different, but not less forcible nature; honour and religion.”

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“Under a democratical government the citizens exercise the powers of sovereignty; and those powers will be first abused, and afterwards lost, if they are committed to an unwieldy multitude.”

Ifs Firsts Government Lost History Citizens Exercise Committed Multitudes Sovereignty Roman Empire

Book:The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“The character of the tribunes was, in every respect, different from that of the consuls. The appearance of the former was modest and humble; but their persons were sacred and inviolable. Their force was suited rather for opposition than for action. They were instituted to defend the oppressed, to pardon offences, to arraign the enemies of the people, and, when they judged it necessary, to stop, by a single word, the whole machine of government.”

Source: THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (All 6 Volumes): From the Height of the Roman Empire, the Age of Trajan and the Antonines - to the Fall of Byzantium; Including a Review of the Crusades, and the State of Rome during the Middle Ages

“To resume, in a few words, the system of the Imperial government, as it was instituted by Augustus, and maintained by those princes who understood their own interest and that of the people, it may be defined an absolute monarchy disguised by the forms of a commonwealth. The masters of the Roman world surrounded their throne with darkness, concealed their irresistible strength, and humbly professed themselves the accountable ministers of the senate, whose supreme decrees they dictated and obeyed.”

Source: THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (All 6 Volumes): From the Height of the Roman Empire, the Age of Trajan and the Antonines - to the Fall of Byzantium; Including a Review of the Crusades, and the State of Rome during the Middle Ages

“The two Antonines (for it is of them that we are now speaking) governed the Roman world forty-two years, with the same invariable spirit of wisdom and virtue. ... Their united reigns are possibly the only period of history in which the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government.”

People World Years Two Government Spirit United History Virtue Objects Periods Forty Two Years Sole Reign Great People Roman Empire

Book:The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“But the sages of Greece and Rome turned aside from the awful spectacle, and, pursuing the ordinary occupations of life and study, appeared unconscious of any alterations in the moral of physical government of the world.”

World Government Moral History Study Ordinary Awful Unconscious Occupation Rome Sage Greece Roman Empire Alterations Greece And Rome

Book:The Modern Library Essential World History 4-Book Bundle: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Abridged); Montcalm and Wolfe; History of the Conquest of Mexico; The Naval War of 1812

Source: The Modern Library Essential World History 4-Book Bundle: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Abridged); Montcalm and Wolfe; History of the Conquest of Mexico; The Naval War of 1812

“If the emperor had capriciously decreed the death of the most eminent and virtuous citizen of the republic, the cruel order would have been executed without hesitation by the ministers of open violence or of specious injustice. The caution, the delay, the difficulty with which he proceeded in the condemnation and punishment of a popular bishop, discovered to the world that the privileges of the church had already revived a sense of order and freedom in the Roman government.”

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Edward Gibbon (Illustrated)

“The incapacity of a weak and distracted government may often assume the appearance and produce the effects of a treasonable correspondence with the public enemy. If Alaric himself had been introduced into the council of Ravenna, he would probably have advised the same measures which were actually pursued by the ministers of Honorius.”

Ifs May Government Enemy History Effects Produce Weak Assuming Appearance Ministers Council Distracted Pursued Roman Empire Correspondence Incapacity Public Enemies

Book:The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

Source: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edited and Abridged): Abridged Edition

“History will not judge our endeavors--and a government cannot be selected--merely on the basis of color or creed or even party affiliation. Neither will competence and loyalty and stature, while essential to the utmost, suffice in times such as these.”

Government Party History Color Judging Essentials Bases Loyalty Endeavor Creeds Competence Selected Stature Affiliation

Author:John F. Kennedy

“It is a law of nature that everything run by the government will get more expensive and worse over time. Everything run by the private sector will get better and cheaper over time. The fact that [Obamacare] starts this badly does not bode well....We want healthcare run on the same system that gave us cell phones, flat screens, Jerry Garcia chia pets. Everything you submit to the free market...keeps getting better and better.”

“You know, my father was a great encouragement for me because he spoke out for women's rights, he spoke out for girl's education. And at that time I said that why should I wait for someone else, why should I be looking to the government, to the army that they would help us? Why don't I raise my voice, why don't we speak up for our rights?”

“Governments have never learned anything from history, or acted on principles deducted from it.”

War Government Peace Principles History Philosophical Historian Anti War Antiwar Philosophy Of Education

Author:Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

“Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.”

Children Government Young History Youth Economics Blessed Debt Libertarian Presidential Libertarianism American Government National Debt Us President Presidents Day Great Presidents Us Presidential Government Debt

Book:Addresses Upon the American Road

Source: Addresses Upon the American Road

“History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.”

Government History Historical Bad Government

Book:Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States

Source: Memoirs, Correspondence, and Private Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Late President of the United States

“No man is good enough to govern another man without the other's consent.”

“History is the sum total of things that could have been avoided.”

Has Beens Government History Historical Could Have Been Avoided

Author:Konrad Adenauer

“The history of the last century shows, as we shall see later, that the advice given to governments by bankers, like the advice they gave to industrialists, was consistently good for bankers, but was often disastrous for governments, businessmen, and the people generally.”

People Shows Government Motivational Lasts Given History Advice Century Consistently Businessman Bankers

Book:Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time

Source: Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

“Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.”

Source: Mark Twain on Common Sense: Timeless Advice and Words of Wisdom from America's Most-Revered Humorist

“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.”

Men Inspiration Government Law History Citizens Men And Women Patience Burden Libertarian Submit 4th Of July Governing Limited Government World Citizen

Author:George Washington

“World War II was the last government program that really worked.”

World War Government Lasts Peace History Program War Of The Worlds World War Ii Government Programs Last Song

Author:George Will

“If you seek Hamilton's monument, look around. You are living in it. We honor Jefferson, but live in Hamilton's country, a mighty industrial nation with a strong central government.”

Ifs Looks Country Government Strong Nations History Honor Monument Hamilton Central Government

Book:Restoration

Source: Restoration

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”

Source: Jefferson: Political Writings

“Rulers, Statesmen, Nations, are wont to be emphatically commended to the teaching which experience offers in history. But what experience and history teach is this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it. Each period is involved in such peculiar circumstances, exhibits a condition of things so strictly idiosyncratic, that its conduct must be regulated by considerations connected with itself, and itself alone.”

People Government Nations Principles Teach History Teaching Conditions Involved Periods Circumstances Offers Connected Consideration Peculiar Rulers Statesmen Exhibits

Book:Reading Hegel: The Introductions

Source: Reading Hegel: The Introductions

“People often of masterful intelligence, trained usually in law or economics or perhaps in political science, who have led their governments into disastrous decisions and miscalculations because they have no awareness whatever of the historical background, the cultural universe, of the foreign societies with which they have to deal.”

People Government Law Political Universe Decision Deals History Awareness Economics Historical Backgrounds Political Science In-laws Miscalculations

Author:Michael Howard

“Ours is a government of liberty by, through, and under the law. A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy.”

Government Law Liberty History Democracy Cease Progressive

Book:Theodore Roosevelt's America: Selections from the Writings of the Oyster Bay Naturalist

Source: Theodore Roosevelt's America: Selections from the Writings of the Oyster Bay Naturalist

“In popular government results worth while can only be achieved by men who combine worthy ideals with practical good sense.”

Men Government Results History Ideals Worthy Practicals Good Sense

Book:Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century

Source: Theodore Roosevelt on Bravery: Lessons from the Most Courageous Leader of the Twentieth Century

“A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable.”

Wisdom Government Liberty History Valuable Genuine Presidents Day

Book:The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin. Reports and opinions while Secretary of State

Source: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence, contin. Reports and opinions while Secretary of State

“Within the Nazi Party, the beginnings of a personality cult around Hitler go back to the year before the [Munich] putsch... Outside these small groups of fanatical Bavarian Nazis, Hitler's image and reputation at this time - so far as the wider German public took any notice of him at all - was little more than that of a vulgar demagogue, capable of drumming up passionate opposition to the government among the Munich mob, but of little else.”

“In relation to the political decontamination of our public life, the government will embark upon a systematic campaign to restore the nation's moral and material health. The whole educational system, theater, film, literature, the press and broadcasting - all these will be used as a means to this end.”

“It is sometimes suggested that the [Nazi economic] recovery was a product of a specific fascist economic strategy, which distinguished it from the recovery efforts of other capitalist states. While few would disagree that the Nazi regime had a number of clear ideological preferences when it came to the economy, the policies pursued in 1933 had much in common with those adopted in other countries, and with the policies of the pre-Hitler governments.”

“In the election campaign of 1930, Hitler seldom spoke explicitly of Jews. The crude tirades of the early 1920s were missing altogether. 'Living-space' figured more prominently, posed against the alternative international competition for markets ... The key theme now was the collapse of Germany under parliamentary democracy and party government into a divided people with separate and conflicting interests, which only the NSDAP could overcome by creating a new unity of the nation, transcending class, estate and profession.”

“Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.”

Has Beens Government History Rocks Policy Fiscal Policy

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1933, Volume 2

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: F.D. Roosevelt, 1933, Volume 2

“All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled by workers' and soldiers' councils. Adolf Hitler, recuperating in a military hospital, reacted violently to this news. "It became impossible for me to sit still one minute more," he wrote in Mein Kampf.”

“It is scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated.”

Men Should Mind Long Government Eye Spirit Causes Levels Secret History Fire Military Genius Corruption Poison Empires Decay Uniforms Roman Empire Felicity Latent

Author:Edward Gibbon