"I believe that history has shape, order, and meaning; that exceptional men, as much as economic forces, produce change; and that passe abstractions like beauty, nobility, and greatness have a shifting but continuing validity"

Camille Paglia asserts a dynamic and layered view of history and human experience, rejecting the notion that history is merely a chaotic progression driven solely by impersonal factors. She argues that history possesses a definite "shape, order, and meaning", suggesting it is not random or meaningless but is instead structured, capable of being understood as a series of interconnected events that carry significance. In this view, history is not just a chronology; it bears patterns that can be discerned and interpreted for deeper insight into the human condition.

Her emphasis on "exceptional men, as much as economic forces" challenges reductionist interpretations that see historical movements and shifts as the exclusive result of class struggles or material circumstances. By highlighting the influence of individual agency, Paglia maintains that charismatic leaders, visionaries, artists, and thinkers have within themselves the power to direct or redirect the course of history. This stance reacquaints history with the role of personality, creativity, genius, and individual initiative, balancing collective movements with the undeniable impact of outstanding figures.

The reference to "passe abstractions like beauty, nobility, and greatness" serves as a defense of enduring, though perhaps unfashionable, values. Paglia acknowledges that these concepts might seem outdated or fluid in meaning, always subject to redefinition across eras and cultures, but they remain central to how societies imagine themselves and their aspirations. "Shifting but continuing validity" conveys her belief that such ideals do not become obsolete, even when interpreted differently over time; rather, their essence persists, shaping human aims, achievements, and cultural expressions.

Taken together, Paglia's perspective represents an affirmation of tradition and innovation, individual agency and structural forces, rationality and transcendent longings. She insists that history is not a sterile field of causality but a vibrant interplay of people, ideas, and values, all shaping and reshaping the ongoing story of civilization.