The Best History Quotes

If you love learning about history, then take a read through these quotes about the subject, curated by the Typerse review team.

Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it. Oscar Wilde

I can’t change history, I don’t want to change history. I can only change the future. I’m working on that. Boris Becker

Many of the greatest crimes in history were caused not by hatred, but rather by indifference. They were caused by people who could have done something, but did not even bother lifting a finger. So don’t wait. Get out there. Go and vote. Yuval Noah Harari

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. Karl Marx

History is a set of lies agreed upon. Napoleon Bonaparte

Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both. C. Wright Mills

Be honest. We have the science, the technology, and the wealth. What we don’t have is the will, and that’s not a reason that history will accept. Bono

History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats. B. C. Forbes

I believe that we must maintain pride in the knowledge that the actions we take, based on our own decisions and choices as individuals, link directly to the magnificent challenge of transforming human history. Daisaku Ikeda

There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made. Michelle Obama

Life moves fast. As much as you can, learn from your history, you have to move forward. Eddie Vedder

We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history we make today. Henry Ford

To study history means submitting to chaos and nevertheless retaining faith in order and meaning. Hermann Hesse

History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul. Lord Acton Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity. Hermann Hesse

History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It is men, real, living, who do all this. Karl Marx

The historic ascent of humanity, taken as a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of consciousness over blind forces – in nature, in society, in man himself. Leon Trotsky

The history of the world is the biography of the great man. And I said: The great man always act like a thunder. He storms the skies, while others are waiting to be stormed. Thomas Carlyle

Psychology keeps trying to vindicate human nature. History keeps undermining the effort. Mason Cooley

Fans of history will love all the great content at Typerse.

Brilliant History Quotes Guaranteed To Inspire You

Be inspired with these historical quotes from some of the most brilliant thinkers in our world, curated by the Typerse review team.

People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them. James Baldwin

History is who we are and why we are the way we are. David McCullough

I am what time, circumstance, history, have made of me, certainly, but I am also, much more than that. So are we all. James Baldwin

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. Mahatma Gandhi

Revolutions are the locomotives of history. Karl Marx

Blood alone moves the wheels of history. Martin Luther

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey

I do not speak Hebrew, but I understand that it has no word for ‘history’. The closest word for it is memory. David Miliband

Fear not for the future, weep not for the past. Percy Bysshe Shelley

History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again. Kurt Vonnegut

History is a relay of revolutions. Saul Alinsky

The past changes a little every time we retell it. Hilary Mantel

Human history in essence is the history of ideas. H. G. Wells

The history of all previous societies has been the history of class struggles. Karl Marx

For all you fans of history, be sure to check Typerse for plenty of eBooks, podcasts and more.

Go Back Into Time With These eBooks

History is captivating, and it is fun to know what happened before our existence. History eBooks can help you learn about past events. Let’s take a look at some of the best history eBooks you’ll find at Typerse.

A History of the Twentieth Century- British Historian Martin Gilbert

This history eBook talks about important events that took part in the 1900s. Get a glimpse of what happened in the previous century and how it has shaped the current times we live in today.

The History of the Ancient World – Author Susan Wise Bauer

This eBook will guide you on the early accounts of Rome, Egypt, India, Sumer, Mesopotamia, China, and Greece. You will get a glimpse of how the early civilization came up, grew, and eventually fell.

The Crusades - Thomas Asbridge

The Crusade covers events that took place between the 11th century and the 13th century. Thomas covers most of the major players of this era, including Sultan Baybars, Richard the lionheart, and Saladin.

Over the Edge of the Earth - Lauren Bergreen

The ebook talks about the three-year sailing journey that Magellan covered. The journey started in 1519, and most of his crew made it back home safe; unfortunately, Magellan lost his life.

A World Lit Only by Fire – Author William Raymond Manchester

William humanizes and brings to life most of the people we see on paintings and old history tales. The eBook tells the story of exciting people from the fall of Rome, Dark Ages up to the renaissance.

If you’re looking for eBooks that will teach you about history, visit Typerse.

Outrageous History: Selling Wives

The industrial revolution was certainly a time filled with ingenuity and inventiveness. Much of that ingenuity was applied towards manufacturing, while some, it would appear, was applied towards marriage. England was certainly the scene of many an unhappy marriage at the time, but to lower class citizens divorce was simply not an affordable option. Rather than stay stuck in an unfruitful union, the inventive individuals looking for an out came up with a new custom: Wife Selling.

Although the practice didn’t result in an official divorce and the marriage was still legally binding, the sale could not go through before both the husband and wife agreed to it, and so local magistrates were usually willing to look the other way. The trend proved quite popular during the 19th century but the concept can be traced back to the mid-1700s.

Among the most well-known occurrences of the bizarre practice was the sale of Joseph Thompson’s wife on April 7, 1832. Thompson, a farmer, had reportedly walked into Carlisle and announced his intention to sell his wife to the “highest and fairest bidder.” He proceeded to list his wife’s faults and virtues as she was seated beside him with a halter around her neck, and over the course of the hour-long auction finally succeeded in selling his wife to Henry Mears for 20 shillings and a dog.

Looking for a deep dive into the world of history? Visit our online library at www.typerse.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Yes, Squirrels Were Once Pets

There’s no shortage of strangeness to be found as you flip through the pages of the history books, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that humans have taken on their fair share of strange pets over the centuries. Strange to us now, but quite common in 18th and 19th century America, was the practice of keeping squirrels as family pets. In fact, they were a fixture in many a home, as common then as the family dog or cat would be now.

Squirrels were even immortalised in many family paintings, especially those of children who would often be pictured with their well behaved pet squirrels nearby, perhaps on a tiny leash. There was even squirrel-care literature in print, offering advice on everything from what to feed your squirrel and how to train it to do tricks.

Think the story can’t get much stranger? Think again. One squirrel in particular, a squirrel named Mungo, was even eulogized by none other than BEnjamin Franklin. Mungo’s owner was a friend of Franklin’s and when one day Mungo escaped his inclosure, he met his untimely fate at the hands of Ranger, the family dog.

“Few squirrels were better accomplished, for he had a good education, had traveled far, and seen much of the world.” Franklin wrote, adding, “Thou art fallen by the fangs of wanton, cruel Ranger!”

Looking for some history related reads? Visit our online library at www.typerse.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

A Brief History of Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt

Although every manner of cosmetic product is available in this day and age, cosmetics were a little more rudimentary in Ancient Egypt, though used every bit as frequently. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians initially used cosmetics for practical purposes. Scented oils and ointments were used for cleaning, as water was scarce in the desert, and the fragrances often served to cover up body odor and soften skin that was hardened in the harsh sun. Perfumes were also employed during various religious ceremonies in Ancient Egypt. These perfumes were made from natural ingredients like lavender, lily, peppermint, sesame oil, rose, thyme, myrrh, rosemary, marjoram, cedar, aloe, and almond oil.

Fast forward a few thousand years, and although cosmetics were still largely used for their practicality their ornamental uses were being explored as well. Around 4000 BCE, women in Egypt would use a compound of copper and lead ore called galena mesdemet alongside a paste made of malachite as eye makeup. This makeup would help define the face and give the appearance of an almond shape around the eyes. The makeup was known as Kohl, and in addition to its decorative purposes it was believed that darkening the area around the eyes would help protect the eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. It was commonplace for women to bring their makeup to parties, often stored in small boxes that would be placed under their seats.

Looking for some history related reads? Visit our online library at www.typerse.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

Outrageous History: Selling Wives

The industrial revolution was certainly a time filled with ingenuity and inventiveness. Much of that ingenuity was applied towards manufacturing, while some, it would appear, was applied towards marriage. England was certainly the scene of many an unhappy marriage at the time, but to lower class citizens divorce was simply not an affordable option. Rather than stay stuck in an unfruitful union, the inventive individuals looking for an out came up with a new custom: Wife Selling.

Although the practice didn’t result in an official divorce and the marriage was still legally binding, the sale could not go through before both the husband and wife agreed to it, and so local magistrates were usually willing to look the other way. The trend proved quite popular during the 19th century but the concept can be traced back to the mid-1700s.

Among the most well-known occurrences of the bizarre practice was the sale of Joseph Thompson’s wife on April 7, 1832. Thompson, a farmer, had reportedly walked into Carlisle and announced his intention to sell his wife to the “highest and fairest bidder.” He proceeded to list his wife’s faults and virtues as she was seated beside him with a halter around her neck, and over the course of the hour-long auction finally succeeded in selling his wife to Henry Mears for 20 shillings and a dog.

Looking for a deep dive into the world of history? Visit our online library at www.typerse.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Strange Tales From The History Books

Real life is often stranger than fiction, and a deep enough dive into the history books will reveal some strange tales indeed.

Bat bombs. Lytle S. Adams, a Pennsylvania dentist, conceived a bomb that would drop a thousand bats with incendiary devices attached to them onto enemy territory. The idea was to have the bats roost in attics in a 20-40 mile radius and start fires that would spread throughout inaccessible areas. Perhaps short on ideas, President Roosevelt approved the idea for testing during WWII, but the design was soon scrapped after one of the test sites caught fire when a bat was accidentally released.

Cruel and unusual punishment. Though now considered a delicacy, lobsters were found in abundance in the 1800s, to the point where they were only eaten out of desperation. When it became common practice to serve lobster to prison inmates, the resulting public outcry went to far as to called the prison menu “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Self mummification. Think it takes discipline to be a Buddhist monk? You may have no idea just how much… Sokushinbutsu was a type of meditation practised by some Buddhist monks between the 11th and 19th centuries. The practice involved slowly weaning one’s self off food, water, and other sensual pleasures with the ultimate goal of ascension. The result would be a mummification-like state inevitably leading to death.

Looking for more history? Visit our online library at www.typerse.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more!

History’s Head Scratchers

The world can certainly be a strange place at times, and there’s no shortage of stories to prove it. Here are three tales from the history books that will have you scratching your head.

You are what you eat. Odd as it may seem, in 16th and 17th century Europe a form of cannibalism was actually an accepted practice. The practice began with the notion that Ancient Egyptians mummies had magical curative powers, and so they were ground up and included in several different medical remedies. From there the practice led to the inclusion of bone, blood, and fat from contemporary humans in medical concoctions.

Lightning never strikes twice, it strikes seven times. Roy Cleveland Sullivan, a park ranger at the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, was struck by lightning on seven different occasions between 1942 and 1977. Seven... Nicknamed the “Human Lighting Rod,” Sullivan earned himself an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for his feat. Miraculously, he survived all seven lightning strikes and lived to the age of 71.

A lover of the Opera. Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s enigmatic Supreme Leader from 1994-2011 was actually born Yuri Irsenovich Kim in 1941 in the Soviet village of Vyatskoye, near Khabarovsk. He was a great lover of music, and actually wrote six operas while in office.

Looking for a deeper dive into the world of history and beyond? Visit our online library at www.typerse.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, acessible anytime from your favorite devices.