Words of William James Durant
Perhaps the cause of our contemporary pessimism is our tendency to view history as a turbulent stream of conflicts - between individuals in economic life, between groups in politics, between creeds in religion, between states in war. This is the more dramatic side of history; it captures the eye of the historian and the interest of the reader. But if we turn from that Mississippi of strife, hot with hate and dark with blood, to look upon the banks of the stream, we find quieter but more inspiring scenes: women rearing children, men building homes, peasants drawing food from the soil, artisans making the conveniences of life, statesmen sometimes organizing peace instead of war, teachers forming savages into citizens, musicians taming our hearts with harmony and rhythm, scientists patiently accumulating knowledge, philosophers groping for truth, saints suggesting the wisdom of love. History has been too often a picture of the bloody stream. The history of civilization is a record of what happened on the banks.
-William James Durant: as quoted by John Little (at Will Durant Foundation) in, “The Gentle Philosopher” (2006)
William James ‘Will’ Durant was born on 5 November 1885 in North Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a historian and a writer. He is known for his works that include, “The Story of Philosophy,” and “The Story of Civilization.” He co-authored several written works with his wife Ariel Durant. William James ‘Will’ Durant passed on at 96 years of age on 7 November 1981 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States of America.
Perhaps the cause of our contemporary pessimism is our tendency to view history as a turbulent stream of conflicts - between individuals in economic life, between groups in politics, between creeds in religion, between states in war. This is the more dramatic side of history; it captures the eye of the historian and the interest of the reader. But if we turn from that Mississippi of strife, hot with hate and dark with blood, to look upon the banks of the stream, we find quieter but more inspiring scenes: women rearing children, men building homes, peasants drawing food from the soil, artisans making the conveniences of life, statesmen sometimes organizing peace instead of war, teachers forming savages into citizens, musicians taming our hearts with harmony and rhythm, scientists patiently accumulating knowledge, philosophers groping for truth, saints suggesting the wisdom of love. History has been too often a picture of the bloody stream. The history of civilization is a record of what happened on the banks.
-William James Durant: as quoted by John Little (at Will Durant Foundation) in, “The Gentle Philosopher” (2006)
William James ‘Will’ Durant was born on 5 November 1885 in North Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a historian and a writer. He is known for his works that include, “The Story of Philosophy,” and “The Story of Civilization.” He co-authored several written works with his wife Ariel Durant. William James ‘Will’ Durant passed on at 96 years of age on 7 November 1981 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States of America.
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