John Keegan Quotes

A collection of quotes by John Keegan.

John Keegan (1934-2012) was a renowned British military historian and journalist. Born on May 15, 1934, in Clapham, London, Keegan developed a deep passion for military history from an early age. He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics before serving in the Royal and Territorial Armies for six years.

Keegan's career as a military historian took off in the early 1970s when he started writing for popular publications such as The Daily Telegraph and The Observer. In 1976, he published his groundbreaking work, "The Face of Battle," which revolutionized military history by focusing on the experiences and perspectives of common soldiers rather than just strategic analysis. This book propelled him to international acclaim and established him as one of the foremost military historians of his generation.

Throughout his career, Keegan authored numerous influential books, including "The Mask of Command," "A History of Warfare," and "The First World War." His insightful analyses and engaging narratives made military history accessible to a broader audience, cementing his reputation as a skillful storyteller and an authoritative voice in his field.

Keegan was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society. He received several prestigious awards during his career, including the Duff Cooper Prize and the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award. John Keegan passed away on August 2, 2012, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential military historians of the 20th century.

The Islam of the 18th, 19th and first half of the 20th centu

The Islam of the 18th, 19th and first half of the 20th century was a poor thing. Nobody bothered about it. Islam was that funny sort of pure system of beliefs that depressed people in the Middle East held as their religion.

John Keegan


It's commonly said that people who've been ill in childhood

It's commonly said that people who've been ill in childhood and who've had an upset education never really regret that they do. It means that you don't look at the world in the way that other people do, and if you were inclined to be a writer, that's a help.

John Keegan

Education

I don't look to find an educated person in the ranks of univ

I don't look to find an educated person in the ranks of university graduates, necessarily. Some of the most educated people I know have never been near a university.

John Keegan

Graduation

Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's u

Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it's been done.

John Keegan

Courage