Samuel Eliot Morison Quotes

• Make no mistake; the American Revolution was not fought to obtain freedom, but to preserve the liberties that Americans already had as colonials. Independence was no conscious goal, secretly nurtured in cellar or jungle by bearded conspirators, but a reluctant last resort, to preserve "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Life, Mistake, Pursuit Of Happiness

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1972). “The Oxford history of the American people”, Signet

  55 Copy quote

• America was discovered accidentally by a great seaman who was looking for something else; when discovered it was not wanted; and most of the exploration for the next fifty years was done in the hope of getting through or around it. America was named after a man who discovered no part of the New World. History is like that, very chancy.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Hope, Men, Discovery

  The Oxford History of the American People ch. 2 (1965)

  16 Copy quote

• If the American Revolution had produced nothing but the Declaration of Independence, it would have been worthwhile.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Freedom, America, Independence

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1972). “The Oxford history of the American people”, Signet

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• The cruel policy initiated by Columbus and pursued by his successors resulted in complete genocide.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Columbus, Genocide, Policy

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1983). “Christopher Columbus, Mariner”, Plume

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• An historian should yield himself to his subject, become immersed in the place and period of his choice, standing apart from it now and then for a fresh view.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Yield, Views, History

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1964). “Vistas of history”, Knopf Books for Young Readers

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• But sea power has never led to despotism. The nations that have enjoyed sea power even for a brief period-Athens, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, England, the United States-are those that have preserved freedom for themselves and have given it to others. Of the despotism to which unrestrained military power leads we have plenty of examples from Alexander to Mao.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Military, Power, Sea

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• Dream dreams and write them aye, but live them first.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Life, Dream, Writing

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• Skepticism is an important historical tool. It is the starting point of all revision of hitherto accepted history.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Historical, Important, Tools

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1953). “By Land and by Sea: Essays and Addresses”, New York : Knopf

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• One learns more from defeat than from victory.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Victory, Defeat

  6 Copy quote

• If the American Revolution had produced nothing but the Declaration of Independence, it would have been worth while. . . . The beauty and cogency of the preamble, reaching back to remotest antiquity and forward so an indefinite future, have lifted the hearts of millions of men and will continue to do. . . . These words are more revolutionary than anything written by Robespierre, Marx, or Lenin, more explosive than the atom, a continual challenge to ourselves as well as an inspiration to the oppressed of all the world.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Inspiration, Heart, Men

  13 Copy quote

• A few hints as to the craft may be useful to budding historians. First and foremost, get writing!

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Writing, Hints, May

  12 Copy quote

• If the European discovery had been delayed for a century or two, it is possible that the Aztec in Mexico or the Iroquois in North America would have established strong native states capable of adopting European war tactics and maintaining their independence to this day, as Japan kept her independence from China.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Strong, War, Discovery

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1972). “The Oxford history of the American people”, Signet

  37 Copy quote

• America was named after a man who discovered no part of the New World. History is like that, very chancy.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Men, America, World

  The Oxford History of the American People ch. 2 (1965)

  9 Copy quote

• No big modern war has been won without preponderant sea power; and, conversely, very few rebellions of maritime provinces have succeeded without acquiring sea power.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  War, Sea, Rebellion

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1965). “the Oxford History of the American People \”

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• The freedmen were not really free in 1865, nor are most of their descendants really free in 1965. Slavery was but one aspect of a race and color problem that is still far from solution here, or anywhere. In America particularly, the grapes of wrath have not yet yielded all their bitter vintage.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Wrath, Race, Color

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1972). “The Oxford history of the American people”, Signet

  4 Copy quote

• He [Columbus] enjoyed long stretches of pure delight such as only a seaman may know, and moments of high, proud exultation that only a discoverer can experience.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Long, Experience, Delight

  Samuel Eliot Morison, Emily Morison Beck (1989). “Sailor historian: the best of Samuel Eliot Morison”, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)

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• Historical methodology, as I see it, is a product of common sense applied to circumstances.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Common Sense, Historical, Methodology

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• Never, in these United States, has the brain of man conceived, or the hand of man fashioned, so perfect a thing as a clipper ship.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Men, Hands, Perfect

  Samuel Eliot Morison (2014). “The Maritime History of Massachusetts”, p.234, Ravenio Books

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• With honesty of purpose, balance, a respect for tradition, courage, and, above all, a philosophy of life, any young person who embraces the historical profession will find it rich in rewards and durable in satisfaction.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Courage, Honesty, Philosophy

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1953). “By Land and by Sea: Essays and Addresses”, New York : Knopf

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• A tough but nervous, tenacious but restless race [the Yankees]; materially ambitious, yet prone to introspection, and subject to waves of religious emotion. . . . A race whose typical member is eternally torn between a passion for righteousness and a desire to get on in the world.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Religious, Passion, Yankees

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• Too rigid specialization is almost as bad for a historian's mind, and for his ultimate reputation, as too early an indulgence in broad generalization and synthesis.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Mind, Synthesis, Reputation

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1953). “By Land and by Sea: Essays and Addresses”, New York : Knopf

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• If a lecturer, he wishes to be heard; if a writer, to be read. He always hopes for a public beyond that of the long-suffering wife.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Wife, Long, Suffering

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• Military and absolutist regimes are undoubtedly well fitted to get the jump on an unsuspecting or unprepared enemy; but the history of modern warfare proves that they cannot win over representative governments in the long run, provided that people behind those governments have the heart to sustain initial punishment, and both the will and the resources to fight back.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Running, Military, Heart

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1975). “History of United States Naval Operations in World War II”

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• Franklin may . . . be considered one of the founding fathers of American democracy, since no democratic government can last long without conciliation and compromise.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Father, Government, Long

  Samuel Eliot Morison, Emily Morison Beck (1977). “Sailor Historian: The Best of Samuel Eliot Morison”

  7 Copy quote

• So I have cultivated the vast garden of human experience which is history, without troubling myself overmuch about laws, essential first causes, or how it is all coming out.

  Samuel Eliot Morison

  Garden, Aquariums, Law

  Samuel Eliot Morison (1953). “By Land and by Sea: Essays and Addresses”, New York : Knopf

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