A.J.P. Taylor quotes

“History is not another name for the past, as many people imply. It is the name for stories about the past.” – A.J.P. Taylor

“Though the object of being a Great Power is to be able to fight a Great War, the only way of remaining a Great Power is not to fight one.” – A.J.P. Taylor

“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.” – A.J.P. Taylor

“The present enables us to understand the past, not the other way round.” – A.J.P. Taylor

“In my opinion we learn nothing from history except the infinite variety of men’s behaviour. We study it, as we listen to music or read poetry, for pleasure, not for instruction.” – A.J.P. Taylor

“The crusade against Communism was even more imaginary than the specter of Communism.” – A.J.P. Taylor

“It is always tempting when you have political discontent in your own country to say it is the fault of some other country and not of your own government.” – A.J.P. Taylor