“A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?”
“A phenomenon noticeable throughout history regardless of place or period is the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interests. Mankind, it seems, makes a poorer performance of government than of almost any other human activity. In this sphere, wisdom, which may be defined as the exercise of judgment acting on experience, common sense and available information, is less operative and more frustrated than it should be. Why do holders of high office so often act contrary to the way reason points and enlightened self-interest suggests? Why does intelligent mental process seem so often not to function?”
Barbara W. Tuchman
“Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.”
Barbara W. Tuchman“Books are ... companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of mind. Books are humanity in print.”
Barbara W. Tuchman“Extravagant sartorial display had a purpose. It created the impression of wealth and power on the opponent and pride in the wearer which has been lost sight of in our nervously egalitarian times.”
Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute“Nothing so comforts the military mind as the maxim of a great but dead general.”
Barbara W. Tuchman, The Guns of August“Civilians who volunteer generally wish to escape, not to share, privatizations worse than their own.”
Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute“Clearly prize money received more serious attention than scurvy or signals.”
Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute“The greatness of the object enabled my mind to support what my strengths of body was scarce equal to.”
Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute“These cumbersome vehicles were as convenient as if dinosaurs had survived to be used by cowboys for driving cattle”
Barbara W. Tuchman, The First SaluteAll in One Creative & Marketing Platform to tell stories at scale
