Gerald W. Johnson Quotes
Nothing changes more constantly than the past
Gerald W. Johnson, 1890-1980, Journalist, American Heroes and Hero-Worship, 1943
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
He argues that it is erroneous to assume motivation and position of individuals at a particular time or with respect to a particular event based on positions and writings that they take later---excepting memoirs. The particular context of Lloyd’s remark was in response to a question of what Thomas Jefferson’s position might have been on several Constitutional provisions given his correspondence post 1800. Lloyd argues that Jefferson’s trials as President later then shaped his views while at the time of the Constitutional convention, he had not had those experiences and were not influenced by them. People change their minds and political philosophies and there is the ever present exigencies of the day that affect views.
Gerald White Johnson was a journalist, editor, essayist, historian, biographer, and novelist. Over his nearly 75-year career he was known for being "one of the most eloquent spokespersons for America's adversary culture". He wrote mystery novels under the pen name of Charles North.
