History never looks like history when you are living through it.

—John W. Gardner

About John W. Gardner

Portrait of John W. Gardner

John William Gardner (October 8, 1912 – February 16, 2002) was US Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under Lyndon Johnson. He was a strong advocate for citizen participation and founded Common Cause; he became known as "the father of campaign finance reform".

More quotations from John W. Gardner

We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.

—John W. Gardner

When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: 'Only stand out of my light.' Perhaps some day we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light.

—John W. Gardner

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.

—John W. Gardner

life art drawing

When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: "Only stand out of my light." Perhaps someday we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light.

—John W. Gardner

creativity light

More quotations tagged with “history”

For four-fifths of our history, our planet was populated by pond scum.

—J. W. Schopf

History is more or less bunk. It's tradition. We don't want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker's dam is the history we made today.

History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.

History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind.

—Edward Gibbon

history crime mankind folly

History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up.

history change class

History

11 Jul 2015 Added