The muffled tongue of Big Ben tolled nine by the clock as the cortege left the palace, but on history's clock it was sunset, and the sun of the old world was setting in a dying blaze of splendor never to be seen again. Barbara Tuchman More Quotes by Barbara Tuchman More Quotes From Barbara Tuchman The ills and disorders of the 14th century could not be without consequence. Times were to grow worse over the next fifty-odd years until at some imperceptible moment, by the some mysterious chemistry, energies were refreshed, ideas broke out of the mold of the Middle Ages into new realms, and humanity found itself redirected. Barbara Tuchman humanity years ideas If it is not profitable for the common good that authority should be retained, it ought to be relinquished. Barbara Tuchman authority should common To put on the garment of legitimacy is the first aim of every coup. Barbara Tuchman legitimacy garments firsts If all were equalized by death, as the medieval idea constantly emphasized, was it not possible that inequalities on earth were contrary to the will of God? Barbara Tuchman medieval earth ideas For most people reform meant relief from ecclesiastical extortions. Barbara Tuchman relief reform people While husbands and lovers in the stories are of all kinds, ranging from sympathetic to disgusting, women are invariably deceivers: inconstant, unscrupulous, quarrelsome, querulous, lecherous, shameless, although not necessarily all of these at once. Barbara Tuchman husband stories men Modern historians have suggested that in his last years he (Richard II) was overtaken by mental disease, but that is only a modern view of the malfunction common to 14th century rulers: inability to inhibit impulse. Barbara Tuchman disease views years History is the unfolding of miscalculation. Barbara Tuchman
