Alistair Horne Quotes

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About Alistair Horne

Alistair Horne (1929-2016) was an eminent British historian, journalist, and author, known for his extensive work on modern French history and the Algerian War of Independence. Born in London on October 31, 1929, Horne showed an early interest in history, eventually earning a scholarship to study at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His academic career was briefly interrupted by World War II, during which he served as a naval officer. Horne's first significant work was "A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962," published in 1977. This seminal book provided an in-depth account of the Algerian War, offering a fresh perspective that challenged conventional wisdom and remains a cornerstone work on the subject today. Influenced by historians such as A.J.P. Taylor and Geoffrey Elton, Horne's writing style was characterized by its clarity, accessibility, and meticulous research. His works often delved into complex historical events, making them engaging for a broad readership. Throughout his career, Horne worked as a journalist for The Economist and The Times of London, contributing to their respective foreign desks. He also served as the BBC's Paris correspondent during the 1968 student protests in France. In addition to "A Savage War of Peace," some of Horne's other notable works include "The French on Foreigners: The Burden of the Past" and "The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: One Hundred Days that Shook the World." His final book, "An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India," was published posthumously in 2016. Horne's work continues to be celebrated for its insightful analysis and compelling narrative style. His contributions to the understanding of modern French history and the Algerian War have left a lasting impact on both academic and popular discourse.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"History is the memory of a society."

This quote by Alistair Horne emphasizes that history serves as a collective repository of a society's knowledge, experiences, values, triumphs, and failures. It encapsulates the lessons learned from the past that shape a community's identity, beliefs, and actions in the present and future. Therefore, understanding history is crucial for fostering cultural empathy, preserving tradition, and making informed decisions about societal progress.

"Revolutions never go exactly according to plan."

This quote by Alistair Horne emphasizes that revolutions, whether political, social, or otherwise, are inherently unpredictable and complex. Despite any strategic plans or aspirations for change, the course of such transformative events is rarely linear or controllable. Factors like human behavior, external influences, and unforeseen circumstances often lead to unexpected outcomes. This quote serves as a reminder that while we can strive for change, we must also be flexible and adaptable in navigating the twists and turns of any revolutionary process.

"War is not the answer to everything, but it is usually the answer to something."

This quote by Alistair Horne suggests that while war isn't a solution for every problem, there are often underlying causes or conflicts that lead to war. The statement acknowledges that conflict is an inherent aspect of human interaction, and sometimes, these conflicts can escalate into war. However, the quote does not imply that war should be our first resort; instead, it underscores that understanding the root causes of conflicts is crucial in seeking peaceful resolutions and preventing wars from occurring in the first place.

"The past, like the future, has an irresistible appeal."

This quote by Alistair Horne emphasizes the human tendency to be fascinated by both the past and the future. The 'past' here refers to historical events or personal memories that carry a certain nostalgic charm, inspiring curiosity and reflection. At the same time, it suggests that people are naturally drawn towards anticipation and predictions about what lies ahead – the 'future'. This quote reminds us of the importance of understanding our past in shaping our present and future, while acknowledging the allure and mystery that both timeframes hold for humanity.

"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives."

This quote suggests that humans and societies often make wise decisions or adopt positive behaviors only after exhausting all other possible options, particularly those that are harmful, shortsighted, or destructive. The implication is that we learn from our mistakes, facing consequences before ultimately choosing a more constructive path. It underscores the importance of understanding history and learning from it to avoid repeating the same errors and foster positive change in the future.

Like the assassination of JFK, everybody alive then can remember where they were that Doomsday Week of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. That Saturday, 27 October, was, and remains, the closest the world has come to nuclear holocaust - the blackest day of a horrendous week.

- Alistair Horne

Week, Saturday, Everybody, Remains

A triumph in which Kissinger could claim to have played some little part, in the presidential elections that November, President Richard Nixon had won the second greatest landslide in American history. Forty-seven million Americans had voted for him - and for his and Kissinger's policies - representing more than 60 percent of all the votes cast.

- Alistair Horne

Some, November, Nixon, Kissinger

Without Kissinger's work in the Middle East, with Sadat especially, I doubt if the Camp David Agreements five years later would have happened. His achievements over detente, the seeds of trust he sowed in a very distrustful and hostile Moscow, helped over a long period.

- Alistair Horne

Trust, Achievements, Very, Kissinger

Following 9/11, intelligence indicated numerous links between al-Qa'eda and Algeria. It began to look as though the roots of jihad could be traced back to the war in Algeria that began 50 years ago.

- Alistair Horne

Began, Though, Numerous, Algeria

Over the past years, I have lectured many times on the Cuban missile crisis, most provocatively to 200 senior officers of the former Soviet army in Moscow in 1991, among them KGB generals. There, my knowledge of Penkovsky's role was thoroughly confirmed, and so was the Soviet military men's residual sense of humiliation at Khrushchev's 'blink'.

- Alistair Horne

Role, Moscow, KGB, Senior

I greatly blame Congress, spurred on by its personal hatred of Nixon, for passing legislation in June through August of '73 which embargoed any further U.S. help to South Vietnam.

- Alistair Horne

Through, Which, Nixon, June

Mikheil Saakashvili can claim that 80 per cent of Georgians wanted to join NATO; on the other hand, a similar percentage of Russians would almost certainly support Putin's quest for a strong Russia. We would mistake this mood at our peril.

- Alistair Horne

Strong, Other, Russians, Putin

There is a widespread view among the liberal intelligentsia to the effect that Henry Kissinger, U.S. National Security Advisor from 1969 to 1975 and Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977, was a bad man. That may even be an understatement. In this fashionable consensus, he is not just a bad man: he is a war criminal.

- Alistair Horne

Bad, Intelligentsia, National Security

History never repeats, but there are the obvious precedents that pessimists can reach for: Sarajevo, 1914; the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia, 1938. But equally relevant might be the tragically meaningless guarantees Britain extended to Poland in 1939.

- Alistair Horne

Czechoslovakia, Repeats, Pessimists

Aung San Suu Kyi's late husband, Michael Aris, was a good friend of mine at St Antony's, Oxford. The gentlest of gentle academics, he helped establish a centre in Tibetan studies at Oxford and converted to Buddhism.

- Alistair Horne

Good, Husband, Oxford, Converted

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, FDR committed a most visionary act: He appointed a Harvard historian to write the official account of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Samuel Eliot Morison was given the rank of lieutenant commander, with the right to interview anyone of whatever status.

- Alistair Horne

Navy, Harbor, Lieutenant, Interview

Though Washington had closed down for the holidays, the next day, December 26, a key message from Hanoi brought Kissinger racing back to his office. It was the signal the White House had anxiously been awaiting; it was also the day of one of the biggest raids by the giant B-52s.

- Alistair Horne

Next, Been, Brought, Signal

In the 17th century, Barbados was regarded in London as 'the brightest jewel in the English crown'.

- Alistair Horne

London, Century, Regarded, Brightest

In 1939, Fitzroy Maclean, a gangly Highland aristocrat in his early 30s, was serving as a British diplomat in the U.S.S.R. Disgusted by the Soviet show trials, he quit the Foreign Service and would go on to serve with Tito's partisans fighting the Germans in Yugoslavia.

- Alistair Horne

Serve, Show, British, Disgusted

Though Barbados has been independent since 1966, its capital, Bridgetown, still has elements of a thriving British colonial port.

- Alistair Horne

Been, Capital, Thriving, Colonial

The eight-year-long Algerian war was to bring down six French prime ministers, open the door to de Gaulle - and come close to destroying him, too. The war was the last of the grand-style colonial struggles, but, perhaps more to the point, it was also the first campaign in which poorly equipped Muslim mujahedin licked one of the top Western armies.

- Alistair Horne

Door, Muslim, Poorly, Colonial

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, Reagan and Thatcher displayed Churchillian magnanimity towards Gorbachev's broken nation. Relations were never better. There was no triumphalism.

- Alistair Horne

Broken, Displayed, Reagan, Relations

Mrs. Miniver was an ordinary middle-class English housewife, a character created by Jan Struther when she was commissioned by the 'Times of London' to write a weekly 'cheer-up' article in 1937.

- Alistair Horne

London, Middle-Class, Housewife

Kissinger was surely one of the very few statesmen to try to do something positive to break the log jam of the Cold War; to try to end the war in Vietnam; to bring a halt to the cycle of war in the Middle East.

- Alistair Horne

Middle, Very, Surely, Cold War

By the end of 2001, between 100,000 to 150,000 Algerians had died in the civil war, as well as 120 foreigners. The cost to the economy ran into billions of dollars. And all this in spite of a tough, 120,000-strong army backed by 80,000 police.

- Alistair Horne

Foreigners, Had, Backed, Ran

In Tbilisi in 1990, I recall watching zealous Georgians smash statues of Lenin and Stalin. A few days earlier, though, in Moscow I had been invited to address the Red Army, as one of the first Brits to benefit from Glasnost. The subject they chose: The Cuban Missile Crisis.

- Alistair Horne

Been, Brits, Subject, Smash

After 1945, shamefully, we Brits seemed dedicated to punishing the heroic Poles at every turn for their wartime loyalty.

- Alistair Horne

Dedicated, Brits, Seemed, Wartime

On 6 October 1973, the Yom Kippur war broke out between a coalition of Arab states and Israel. At 6 A.M. that morning, Kissinger, asleep in the Waldorf, was taken by surprise by the Arab attack - as were the CIA and the rest of the world.

- Alistair Horne

Out, Kissinger, States, Arab

In the late 1980s, a new revolt broke out, this time led by the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front). Many of its leaders were the kind of young Algerians who joined the struggle against the French occupiers in the 1950s.

- Alistair Horne

Young, Salvation, Islamic, French

Christmas 1972 was a lonely time for Kissinger, as well as for his boss, and a period of serious reflection. Kissinger was then a bachelor, enamored of the tall, elegant, but elusive WASP Nancy Maginnes, but still very much a bachelor - Washington's most sought-after bachelor.

- Alistair Horne

Boss, Very, Kissinger, Wasp

Though not the longest battle in history - that was Verdun - Stalingrad was certainly the most pitiless, an adjective that reappears regularly in Mr. Beevor's classic work.

- Alistair Horne

Longest, Certainly, Though, Adjective

Keeping his face clean over Watergate was one of Kissinger's biggest successes; so was his overall handling of the Yom Kippur War.

- Alistair Horne

War, Over, Keeping, Watergate

Vietnam ended a failure: repeatedly, to me, Kissinger described it as his greatest, and most persistent regret. But Congress was more to blame than Kissinger.

- Alistair Horne

Regret, Congress, Repeatedly, Persistent

In the fall of 1973, Erica Jong assaulted the last surviving bastions of old-fashioned modesty with her 'Fear of Flying.'

- Alistair Horne

Fall, Surviving, Last, Modesty

A supreme pragmatist, Kissinger was never interested in the art of the impossible - and nor, as a biographer, am I. That is why, having initially been invited to write his entire official biography, I eventually decided to devote myself to writing just one year in his life: 1973.

- Alistair Horne

Year, Been, Devote, Initially

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