There are thus great swathes of the past where understanding is more important and reputable than judgement, because the principal actors performed in line with the ideas and values of that time, not of ours.

Quote by Douglas Hurd

Topics: Douglas Hurd Quotes

Margaret Thatcher was fearful of German unification because she believed that this would bring an...

Margaret Thatcher was fearful of German unification because she believed that this would bring an...

Men like Hitler and Stalin and their immediate lieutenants cannot plead in defence of their...

Men like Hitler and Stalin and their immediate lieutenants cannot plead in defence of their...

It is not helpful to help a friend by putting coins in his pockets when...

It is not helpful to help a friend by putting coins in his pockets when...

Wisely used history can give pleasure and provide us with a useful tool; but we...

Wisely used history can give pleasure and provide us with a useful tool; but we...

History provides no precise guidelines.

History provides no precise guidelines.

Despite this lamentable lack of balance in our education I do not believe that either...

Despite this lamentable lack of balance in our education I do not believe that either...

The tragedy of 9-11 galvanized the American superpower into action, leaving us in Europe divided...

The tragedy of 9-11 galvanized the American superpower into action, leaving us in Europe divided...

But it cannot follow that because weapons and troops are now being deployed we are...

But it cannot follow that because weapons and troops are now being deployed we are...

I may be wrong in that, but not I think in putting the questions. In...

I may be wrong in that, but not I think in putting the questions. In...

It is normal for politicians in all countries to profess themselves the pupils of history,...

It is normal for politicians in all countries to profess themselves the pupils of history,...

We, Britain and Germany, can neither of us be happy about our handling of the...

We, Britain and Germany, can neither of us be happy about our handling of the...

A genuinely democratic Iraq might well act as a fresh spur.

A genuinely democratic Iraq might well act as a fresh spur.

Margaret Thatcher, growing up in a bombed and battered Britain, derived a distrust which has...

Margaret Thatcher, growing up in a bombed and battered Britain, derived a distrust which has...

People are very interested in politics, they just don't like it labelled politics.

People are very interested in politics, they just don't like it labelled politics.

The first two Prime Ministers whom I served, Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher drew strikingly...

The first two Prime Ministers whom I served, Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher drew strikingly...

We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those...

We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those...

There is nothing false or arrogant about German pride in German technical and business skills.

There is nothing false or arrogant about German pride in German technical and business skills.

But Germany will always suffer, I fear, from the intensely dramatic character of the crimes...

But Germany will always suffer, I fear, from the intensely dramatic character of the crimes...

It was essentially for self defence that we went to war in Afghanistan and would...

It was essentially for self defence that we went to war in Afghanistan and would...

No military timetable should compel war when a successful outcome, namely a disarmed Iraq may...

No military timetable should compel war when a successful outcome, namely a disarmed Iraq may...