There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the establishment and nothing more corrupting.

In 1917 European history, in the old sense, came to an end. World history began. It was the year of Lenin and Woodrow Wilson, both of whom repudiated the traditional standards of political behaviour. Both preached Utopia, Heaven on Earth. It was the moment of birth for our contemporary world.

Freedom does not always win. This is one of the bitterest lessons of history.

We learn nothing from history except the infinite variety of men's behaviour.

In my opinion, most of the great men of the past were only there for the beer - the wealth, prestige and grandeur that went with the power.

History is not another name for the past, as many people imply. It is the name for stories about the past.

No matter what political reasons are given for war, the underlying reason is always economic.