Quote by George Orwell

Contrary to popular belief, the past was not more eventful than the present. If seems so it is because when you look backward things that happened years apart are telescoped together, and because very few of your memories come to you genuinely virgin. It is largely because of the books, films and reminiscences that have come between that the war of 1914-18 is now supposed to have had some tremendous, epic quality that the present one lacks.

Contrary to popular belief, the past was not more eventful t

Summary

This quote suggests that the perception that the past was more eventful than the present is misguided. The author argues that the past appears more eventful because distant events are compressed together when observing history, and because memories are often influenced by external sources like books, films, and personal recollections. The author implies that this exaggeration may lead to perceiving historical events, such as the First World War, as more epic or extraordinary compared to the present, even though contemporary events may be equally meaningful or significant.

Topics

Nostalgia

By George Orwell

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

In time of this grave national danger, when all excess incom

In time of this grave national danger, when all excess income should go to win the war, no American citizen ought to have a net income, after he has paid his taxes, of more than $25,000 a year.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Truth -- An ingenious compound of desirability and appearanc

Truth -- An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance.

Truth

I think that New York is not the cultural centre of America,

I think that New York is not the cultural centre of America, but the business and administrative centre of American culture.

Business

The shades of night were falling fast,As though an Alpine vi

The shades of night were falling fast,As though an Alpine village passedA youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,A banner with the strange device,Excelsior!His brow was sad; his eye beneath,Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,And like a silver clarion rungThe accents of that unknown tongue,Excelsior!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Exce

Literary

Use non-verbal communication to SOFTEN the hard-line positio

Use non-verbal communication to SOFTEN the hard-line position of others: S = Smile O = Open Posture F = Forward Lean T = Touch E = Eye Contact N = Nod.

Communication

In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence

In every power, of which taste is the foundation, excellence is pretty fairly divided among the sexes.

Power Excellence Sex

Why, what a wonderful piece of luck! Here is a red rose! I h

Why, what a wonderful piece of luck! Here is a red rose! I have never seen any rose like it in all my life. It is so beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin name.

Dad

The truth that is suppressed by friends is the readiest weap

The truth that is suppressed by friends is the readiest weapon of the enemy.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Truth

Here we all live in a state of ambitious poverty.

Here we all live in a state of ambitious poverty.

Poverty

with Michael Kube McDowell

with Michael Kube McDowell

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Secrets

Might, could, would --they are contemptible auxiliaries.

Might, could, would --they are contemptible auxiliaries.

Language

Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you

Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time.

Viktor E. Frankl

Time