Robert Caro Quotes

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

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future.

Posterity is always just.

Leadership can not be measured in a poll or even in the result of an election. It can only be truly seen with the benefit of time. From the perspective of 20 years, not 20 days.

History passes the final judgment.

Fiction that responds to recent world events is a hostage to fortune, because all momentous events look very different a year, two years, three years later.

It's up to history to judge.

Predicting the future is very difficult. As a historian I have trouble trying to predict the past.

Statesmen are judged by history beyond contemporary debates.

I know that after my death a pile of rubbish will be heaped on my grave, but the wind of History will sooner or later sweep it away without mercy.

As for my conduct in public office, my compatriots, as is usually the case, will divide their opinions; their children will render true judgment.

Every true history must force us to remember that the past was once as real as the present and as uncertain as the future.

Those we call the ancients were really new in everything.

You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you're gone.

I don't think about my legacy, if indeed, I have one.

Well, I'm not sure, but of one thing I am certain: History judges one differently than contemporary observers, and so I think that as time passes, I hope that not me personally so much, but our administration will be seen for some of the things that we accomplished.

You can never plan the future by the past.

The future, like everything else, is not what it used to be.

It could be seen as narcissistic to have your own museum, but for me, it's such a long time ago - I have perspective. That young man in the funny clothes - he's almost a stranger, so I can tell his story.

History is always changing behind us, and the past changes a little every time we retell it.

Posterity makes the judgments. There are going to be a lot of surprises in store for everybody.

What happens tomorrow is going to happen tomorrow.

Let them call it mischief: When it is past and prospered t'will be virtue.

History will treat me right.

We live trapped, between the churned-up and examined past and a future that waits for our work.