Quotes and anectdotes from the wise to the foolish, and the courageous to the drunk

Will Durant Historian

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: United States
  • Born: Nov 5, 1885
  • Died: Nov 7, 1981

William James Durant was an American writer, historian, and philosopher. He is best known for The Story of Civilization, 11 volumes written in collaboration with his wife Ariel Durant and published between 1935 and 1975. He was earlier noted for The Story of Philosophy, written in 1926, described as "a groundbreaking work that helped to popularize philosophy".

He conceived of philosophy as total perspective, or, seeing things sub specie totius, a phrase inspired by Spinoza's sub specie aeternitatis. He sought to unify and humanize the great body of historical knowledge, which had grown voluminous and become fragmented into esoteric specialties, and to vitalize it for contemporary application.

Will and Ariel Durant were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.

Civilization is the order and freedom is promoting cultural activity. freedom

Our knowledge is a receding mirage in an expanding desert of ignorance. knowledge

Bankers know that history is inflationary and that money is the last thing a wise man will hoard. history & money

Sixty years ago I knew everything now I know nothing education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. education

Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom. knowledge, science & wisdom

The family is the nucleus of civilization. family

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

In my youth I stressed freedom, and in my old age I stress order. I have made the great discovery that liberty is a product of order. age & freedom

Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice. change

Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art. art & science

Education is the transmission of civilization. education

Nature has never read the Declaration of Independence. It continues to make us unequal. nature

It may be true that you can't fool all the people all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a large country. time

There is nothing in socialism that a little age or a little money will not cure. age & money

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

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

Moral codes adjust themselves to environmental conditions. environmental

Truth always originates in a minority of one, and every custom begins as a broken precedent. truth

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. education

History is mostly guessing the rest is prejudice. history

Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul. knowledge

There have been only 268 of the past 3,421 years free of war. war

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

To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. Nothing is often a good thing to say, and always a clever thing to say. good

The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds. hope

Thanksgiving November 28, 2024

The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. 32 sayings from William Blake

32 sayings from William Blake

Drink and be thankful to the host! What seems insignificant when you have it, is important when you need it. 6 other wisdom & wit from Franz Grillparzer

6 other wisdom & wit from Franz Grillparzer

For what I have received may the Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not received. 2 more wisdom & wit from Storm Jameson

2 more wisdom & wit from Storm Jameson

To give thanks in solitude is enough. Thanksgiving has wings and goes where it must go. Your prayer knows much more about it than you do. 73 quotes from Victor Hugo

73 quotes from Victor Hugo