One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say

Quote by Will Durant

Topics: History Quotes

A statesman cannot afford to be a moralist.

A statesman cannot afford to be a moralist.

Every form of government tends to perish by excess of its basic principle.

Every form of government tends to perish by excess of its basic principle.

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

Friends are helpful not only because they will listen to us, but because they will...

Friends are helpful not only because they will listen to us, but because they will...

Men forget that a value judgment has a raison d'Ãªtre only as a preparation for...

Men forget that a value judgment has a raison d'Ãªtre only as a preparation for...

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. Nothing is often...

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. Nothing is often...

The love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an...

The love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an...

Drunkenness was in good repute in England till Bloody Mary frowned upon it; it remained...

Drunkenness was in good repute in England till Bloody Mary frowned upon it; it remained...

The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority.

The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority.

The most interesting thing in the world is another human being who wonders, suffers and...

The most interesting thing in the world is another human being who wonders, suffers and...

Every vice was once a virtue, and may become respectable again, just as hatred becomes...

Every vice was once a virtue, and may become respectable again, just as hatred becomes...

Moral codes adjust themselves to environmental conditions.

Moral codes adjust themselves to environmental conditions.

To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.

To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.

History is mostly guessing; the rest is prejudice

History is mostly guessing; the rest is prejudice

We Americans are the best informed people on earth as to the events of the...

We Americans are the best informed people on earth as to the events of the...

One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to...

One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to...

We are living in the excesses of freedom. Just take a look at 42nd Street...

We are living in the excesses of freedom. Just take a look at 42nd Street...

As soon as liberty is complete it dies in anarchy.

As soon as liberty is complete it dies in anarchy.

Although images of perfection in people's personal lives can cause unhappiness, images of perfect societies,...

Although images of perfection in people's personal lives can cause unhappiness, images of perfect societies,...

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall...

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall...