"I can see … only one safe rule for the historian: that he should recognize in the development of human destinies the play of the contingent and the unforeseen."

H. A. L. Fisher See all quotes by H. A. L. Fisher →

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More by H. A. L. Fisher

“Purity of race does not exist. Europe is a continent of energetic mongrels.”

“All political decisions are taken under great pressure, and if a treaty serves its turn for ten or twenty years, the wisdom of its framers is sufficiently confirmed.”

“It is easier for eight or nine elderly men to feel their way towards unanimity if they are not compelled to conduct their converging maneuvers under the microscopes and telescopes of the press, but are permitted to shuffle about a little in slippers.”

“Politics is the art of human happiness.”

Resonant Thoughts

"Dissentions existing between man and wife are in all events very unfortunate: when they become the subject of consideration to third persons, they are very unpleasant, and if the case requires that th…"

— Sir Francis Buller

Law1746–1800

#Human Nature

"Perhaps some little boys consumed with curiosity to watch their maiden aunts in the bathroom later become inveterate sociologists. This is quite uninteresting. What interests us is the curiosity that …"

— Peter L. Berger

Religion1929–2017

#Human Nature

"I'm not a feminist, I'm a humanist."

— Madonna (entertainer)

Music1958

#Human Nature

"I think this is a very dirty question . On one hand, no one is above the law. Suppose there is an allegation against Narendra Modi, and suppose tomorrow Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister, then …"

— Narendra Modi

Politics1950

#justice