A. J. P. Taylor History Quotations

Like most of those who study history, he (Napoleon III) learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones.

He was what I often think is a dangerous thing for a statesman to be - a student of history; and like most of those who study history, he learned from the mistakes of the past how to make new ones.

History is not a catalogue but...a convincing version of events.

All other forms of history - economic history, social history, psychological history, above all sociology - seem to me history with the history left out.

History is the great propagator of doubt.

Freedom does not always win. This is one of the bitterest lessons of history.

Rather an end in horror, than horror without end. He could not condemn principles he might need to invoke and apply later. The wolf cannot help having been created by God as he is, but we shoot him all the same if we have to. The great player in diplomacy, as in chess, asks the question,Does this improve me?, not look at the possible fringe benefits If you can't have what you like, you must like what you have.

The male clerk with his quill pen and copper-plate handwriting had gone for good. The female short-hand typist took his place. It was a decisive moment in women's emancipation.