"To try to expunge an individual's history is a terrible violation"
- Helen Dunmore
About this Quote
This quote by Helen Dunmore speaks to the value of preserving history and the effects of attempting to erase it. It recommends that trying to eliminate a person's history is a type of infraction, as it rejects the individual's identity and the experiences that have shaped them. It suggests that history is a crucial part of an individual's identity and ought to not be taken away. It likewise suggests that removing an individual's history is a type of injustice, as it denies them the right to their own story and the right to be kept in mind. This quote talks to the significance of protecting history and the consequences of attempting to eliminate it. It is a pointer that history is an important part of an individual's identity and ought to not be eliminated.
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do"
