For many human beings, an interest in the past starts with themselves. That is, in part, a result of biology. Like other creatures, humans have a beginning and an ending, and in between lies their story. Margaret MacMillan More Quotes by Margaret MacMillan More Quotes From Margaret MacMillan We can learn from history, but we can also deceive ourselves when we selectively take evidence from the past to justify what we have already made up our minds to do. Margaret MacMillan deceiving mind past History should not be written to make the present generation feel good but to remind us that human affairs are complicated. Margaret MacMillan generations feel-good complicated Passionate and forcefully argued, Tar Sands is a wake-up call not just to Canadians but to the wider world to take a serious look at what is happening in northern Alberta. To call this book a polemic is a compliment. Margaret MacMillan wake-up book looks Hubris is interesting, because you get people who are often very clever, very powerful, have achieved great things, and then something goes wrong - they just don't know when to stop. Margaret MacMillan stop great you people Modernism was born in part out of the need to find fresh ways of expression, to describe a new world that was unlike anything that had gone before. Margaret MacMillan need new born world An apology offered and, equally important, received is a step towards reconciliation and, sometimes, recompense. Without that process, hurts can rankle and fester and erupt into their own hatreds and wrongdoings. Margaret MacMillan step own important sometimes When I first read Barbara Tuchman's 'The Guns of August' in the autumn of 1963, it was as though history went from black and white to Technicolor. Margaret MacMillan autumn black-and-white black history I've always loved reading diaries and memoirs and just getting a sense of different personalities and what made them tick as individuals. Margaret MacMillan loved always different reading Climate change respects no borders. Margaret MacMillan climate-change climate borders change Nominally left- and right-wing populists differ primarily in their choice of which 'others' to exclude and attack, with the former singling out big corporations and oligarchs, and the latter targeting ethnic or religious minorities. Margaret MacMillan others big choice left By the start of August 1914, it was dawning on the British that a major war was about to break out on mainland Europe. Public opinion and, crucially, the cabinet was deeply divided on whether to intervene or stay out. Margaret MacMillan stay start opinion war I wish we could see understanding the First World War as a European issue, or even a global one, and not a nationalistic one. Margaret MacMillan understanding wish war world In the 19th century, we didn't much like the loud annexationist voices south of the border or American support for Sinn Fein adventurers who thought, by seizing the Canadian colonies, they could force Britain out of Ireland. Margaret MacMillan thought like support force Managing the relationship with a giant neighbour has been central to our foreign policy for more than a century. Trade and investment, as well as people, have flowed back and forth across the border, and the U.S. is, by far, our biggest trading partner. Margaret MacMillan partner back relationship people American diplomats worked closely with the League of Nations. The United States used its considerable influence to settle some of the outstanding issues left over from World War I, and Washington took the lead in negotiating naval limitations in the Pacific. Margaret MacMillan some influence war world George W. Bush, judging by his repeated invocations, thinks that time will eventually prove that he was right. He is not alone in putting his faith in the future. Margaret MacMillan alone future faith time No one is always right. Margaret MacMillan right always I like to think I'm a recovering historian. Margaret MacMillan like think recovering historian The word 'populism' was everywhere in 2016. Political leaders claiming to speak for the people have achieved significant victories in Europe, Asia, and, with the election of Donald Trump, the United States. Margaret MacMillan election political speak people Political orientation is unimportant in populism because it does not deal in evidence or detailed proposals for change but in the manipulation of feelings by charismatic leaders. Margaret MacMillan evidence political change feelings
