Barbara W. Tuchman - Time Quotes

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The ills and disorders of the 14th century could not be without consequence. Times were to grow worse over the next fifty-odd years until at some imperceptible moment, by the some mysterious chemistry, energies were refreshed, ideas broke out of the mold of the Middle Ages into new realms, and humanity found itself redirected.

Barbara W. Tuchman
As the era of the sword was ending, that of firearms began, in time to allow no lapse in man's belligerent capacity.

Barbara W. Tuchman
No nation in the world has so many drastic problems squeezed into so small a space, under such urgent pressure of time and heavy burden of history, as Israel.

Barbara W. Tuchman
Human beings of any age need to approve of themselves; the bad times in history come when they cannot.

Barbara W. Tuchman
When reproached for spending too much time with books and clerks, Charles answered, As long as knowledge is honored in this country, so long will it prosper.

Barbara W. Tuchman
Without books the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are the engines of change, windows on the world, 'lighthouses' as the poet said 'erected in the sea of time.' They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print.

Barbara W. Tuchman
The costliest myth of our time has been the myth of the Communist monolith.

Barbara W. Tuchman
Perhaps by this time the 14th century was not quite sane. If enlightened self-interest is the criterion of sanity, in the verdict of Michelet, no epoch was more naturally mad.

Barbara W. Tuchman
Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed.

Barbara W. Tuchman
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 W. Tuchman
Disaster is rarely as pervasive as it seems from recorded accounts. The fact of being on the record makes it appear continuous and ubiquitous whereas it is more likely to have been sporadic both in time and place.

Barbara W. Tuchman