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If history is the judge to which we appeal, then it can also find against us. It can highlight our mistakes by reminding us of those who, at other times, faced similar problems but who made different, perhaps better decisions.

— Margaret MacMillan The Uses and Abuses of History (2008)

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More quotes by Margaret MacMillan

Dictators, perhaps because they know their own lies so well, have usually realized the power of history. Consequently, they have tried to rewrite, deny, or destroy the past.

The Uses and Abuses of History (2008)

Over the years, historians have tried to discern grand patterns, perhaps one grand pattern, that explain everything.

The Uses and Abuses of History (2008)

Lost golden ages can be very effective tools for motivating people in the present.

The Uses and Abuses of History (2008)

Histories that that show past injustices or crimes can be used to argue for redress in the present.

The Uses and Abuses of History (2008)

History does not produce definitive answers for all time. It is a process.

The Uses and Abuses of History (2008)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Margaret MacMillan (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.