Historian

Explore 186 quotes by Historians

I have never been more struck by the good sense and the practical judgment of the Americans than in the manner in which they elude the numberless difficulties resulting from their Federal Constitution.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Democracy in America

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Topic

US Constitution American character

Author

Alexis de Tocqueville

Source

Democracy in America

Genre

Political literature

Language

French

Time

1835 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. De La Democratie en Amerique [Democracy in America]. Vol. 1, London: Saunders and Otley, 1835, ch. 8, pt. 5.

Current Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II, translated by Henry Reeve. Bantam Classics, 2000, vol. 1, ch. 8, pt. 5.

The movement of the progressive societies has hitherto been a movement from Status to Contract.

Henry Maine

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Topic

Progress

Author

Henry Maine

Genre

Historical literature

Language

English

Time

1861 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Maine, Henry. Ancient Law. London: John Murray, 1861, ch. 5.

It had been boldly predicted by some of the early Christians that the conversion of the world would lead to the establishment of perpetual peace. In looking back, with our present experience, we are driven to the melancholy conclusion that, instead of diminishing the number of wars, ecclesiastical influence has actually and very seriously increased it.

William E.H. Lecky

History of European Morals

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Topic

Christianity in Europe Christianity

Author

William E.H. Lecky

Source

History of European Morals

Genre

Historical literature

Language

English

Time

1869 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Lecky, William Edward Hartpole. History of European Morals: From Augustus to Charlemagn. Vol. 2. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1869, ch. 4.

Great successes are not won save by great risks.

Herodotus

Histories

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Topic

No risk it no biscuit Taking risks

Speaker

Xerxes

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 7, ch. 50.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 7, ch. 50.

The worst kind of shame is that caused by parsimony or poverty.

Livy

Ab Urbe Condita

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Topic

Shame Poverty

Author

Livy

Source

Ab Urbe Condita

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Latin

Time

9 BC 1s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Livy. Ab urbe condita [From the Founding of the City]. c. 9 BC, bk. 34, ch. 4, sect. 13.

Current Citation

Livy. Rome and the Mediterranean: History of Rome from Its Foundation, books 31-45, translated by Henry Bettenson. Penguin Classics, 1976, bk. 34, ch. 4, sect. 13.

Of all nations, those submit to civilization with the most difficulty which habitually live by the chase.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Democracy in America

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Topic

Hunter gatherer societies Civilization

Author

Alexis de Tocqueville

Source

Democracy in America

Genre

Political literature

Language

French

Time

1840 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. De La Democratie en Amerique [Democracy in America]. Vol. 1, London: Saunders and Otley, 1835, ch. 18, pt. 2.

Current Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II, translated by Henry Reeve. Bantam Classics, 2000, vol. 1, ch. 18, pt. 2.

Now haste is ever the parent of failure.

Herodotus

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Topic

Haste Business

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

450 BC 450s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 7, ch. 10.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 7, ch. 10.

A woman takes off her claim to respect along with her garments.

Herodotus

Histories

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Topic

Slut shaming Patriarchy

Speaker

Gyges

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 1, ch. 8.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, ch. 8.

There are, at the present time, two great nations in the world, which seem to tend towards the same end, although they started from different points; I allude to the Russians and the Americans... Their starting point is different, and their courses are not the same; yet each of them seems to be marked out by the will of Heaven to sway the destinies of half the globe.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Democracy in America

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Topic

Russia America

Author

Alexis de Tocqueville

Source

Democracy in America

Genre

Political literature

Language

French

Time

1840 1840s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. De La Democratie en Amerique [Democracy in America]. Vol. 1, London: Saunders and Otley, 1835, conclusion.

Current Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II, translated by Henry Reeve. Bantam Classics, 2000, vol. 1, conclusion.

These times have the rare good fortune that you may think what you like and say what you think.

Tacitus

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Topic

Freedom of speech and expression

Author

Tacitus

Source

Histories (Tacitus)

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Latin

Time

110 BC 110s BC 2nd century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tacitus. Historiae [Histories]. Venice, c. 110, bk. 1, ch. 1.

Current Citation

Tacitus. The Histories, translated by W. H. Fyfe. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, ch. 1.

Corruption, the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty.

Edward Gibbon

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

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Topic

Political corruption

Author

Edward Gibbon

Source

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Genre

Historical literature

Language

English

Time

1781 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Vol. 2, London: Strahan & Cadell, 1781, ch. 21.

Current Citation

Gibbon, Edward. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Volumes 1-6. Vol. 2. Everyman's Library, 2010, ch. 21.

It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.

Herodotus

Histories

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Topic

Regression to the mean God and man The gods

Speaker

Artabanus

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Histories. c. 430 BC, bk. 7.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 7.

The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common, quality of human nature.

Edward Gibbon

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

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Topic

Martial courage Soldiers

Author

Edward Gibbon

Source

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Genre

Historical literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Vol. 1, London: Strahan & Cadell, 1776, ch. 26.

Current Citation

Gibbon, Edward. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Volumes 1-6. Vol. 1. Everyman's Library, 2010, ch. 26.

The renown which riches or beauty confer is fleeting and frail; mental excellence is a splendid and lasting possession.

Sallust

The War of Catiline

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Topic

Fame Wealth Virtue

Author

Sallust

Source

The War of Catiline

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Latin

Time

42 BC 40s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Sallust. Bellum Catilinae [War of Catiline]. c. 43–40 BC.

Current Citation

Sallust. "The War with Catiline." The War with Catiline and The War with Jugurtha, translated by John T. Ramsey J. C. Rolfe. Harvard University Press, 2013.

How strongly does this bear out the truth of Plato's maxim, that he who wishes to be really rich ought to lessen his desires rather than increase his property, because if a man places no bounds to his covetousness, he never will be free from want and misery.

Plutarch

Plutarch's Lives

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Topic

Wealth Contentment Desire Appetite Freedom

Author

Plutarch

Source

Demetrius Plutarch's Lives

Genre

Biography Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

2nd century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plutarch. "Demetrius." Βίοι Παράλληλοι [Parallel Lives]. c. 2nd century.

Current Citation

Plutarch. "Demetrius." Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Roman Lives, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2009.

It should be known that at the beginning of a dynasty, taxation yields a large revenue from small assessments. At the end of a dynasty, taxation yields a small revenue from large assessments.

Ibn Khaldun

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Topic

Taxes

Author

Ibn Khaldun

Source

The Muqaddimah

Language

Arabic

Time

1377 1370s 14th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Khaldun, Ibn. مقدّمة ابن خلدون [The Muqaddimah]. 1377, bk. 1, ch. 3, sect. 36.

History...is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.

Edward Gibbon

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

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Topic

Nature of history History

Author

Edward Gibbon

Source

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Genre

Historical literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Vol. 1, London: Strahan & Cadell, 1776, ch. 3.

Current Citation

Gibbon, Edward. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: Volumes 1-6. Vol. 1. Everyman's Library, 2010, ch. 3.

There is a written and an unwritten law. The one by which we regulate our constitutions in our cities is the written law; that which arises from custom is the unwritten law.

Diogenes Laërtius

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

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Topic

Custom and convention Law

Author

Diogenes Laërtius

Source

The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

400 400s 3rd century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Quoted in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laertius. c. 240 AD, bk. 3, sect. 86.

Current Citation

Plato. Quoted in The Lives of Eminent Philosophers, written by Diogenes Laërtius, translated by Pamela Mensch, edited by James Miller. Oxford University Press, 2018, bk. 3, sect. 86.

Our ancestors refused to allow any woman to transact even private business without a guardian to represent her; women had to be under the control of fathers, brothers, or husbands. But we (heaven preserve us!) are now allowing them even to take part in politics, and actually to appear in the Forum and to be present at our meetings and assemblies!... Give a free rein to their unprincipled nature, to this untamed animal, and then expect them to set a limit on their own license!

Livy

Ab Urbe Condita

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Topic

Women's rights Men and women Misogyny Patriarchy

Author

Livy

Source

Ab Urbe Condita

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Latin

Time

9 BC 1s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Livy. Ab urbe condita [From the Founding of the City]. c. 9 BC, bk. 34, ch. 2, sect. 12.

Current Citation

Livy. Rome and the Mediterranean: History of Rome from Its Foundation, books 31-45, translated by Henry Bettenson. Penguin Classics, 1976, bk. 34, ch. 2.

At least a third of all the people in the world died.

Jean Froissart

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Topic

The Black Death Plague

Author

Jean Froissart

Genre

Historical literature

Language

French

Time

1373 1370s 14th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Froissart, Jean. Chroniques. c. 1369, bk. 1.

Current Citation

Froissart, Jean. Chronicles, translated and edited by Geoffrey Brereton. Penguin Classics, 1978, bk. 1.