Barbara Tuchman Quotes about History

All Barbara Tuchman Quotes Age Art Church History quotes Humanity Military Power Purpose Reality Sin War Writing

In individuals as in nations, contentment is silent, which tends to unbalance the historical record.

In individuals as in nations, contentment is silent, which tends to unbalance the historical record.

Barbara Tuchman

Peace, History, Historical

Barbara W. Tuchman (2011). “A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century”, p.210, Random House

Completeness is rare in history.

Barbara Tuchman

History, Completeness

Barbara W. Tuchman (2011). “A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century”, p.116, Random House

The poets have familiarized more people with history than have the historians.

Barbara Tuchman

People, History, Poetry

The Germans could not get over the perfidy of it. It was unbelievable that the English, having degenerated to the stage where suffragettes heckled the Prime Minister and defied the police, were going to fight.

Barbara Tuchman

Fighting, History, Police

To rush in upon an event before its significance has had time to separate from the surrounding circumstances may be enterprising, but is it useful? ... The recent prevalence of these hot histories on publishers' lists raises the question: Should - or perhaps can - history be written while it is still smoking?

Barbara Tuchman

History, Smoking, Events

Barbara W. Tuchman (2011). “Practicing History: Selected Essays”, p.25, Random House