Standards are always out of date. That's what makes them standards.
Alan BennettRead
History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History is women following behind with the bucket.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that history often overlooks the contributions of women, depicting them as merely supportive figures. It highlights the inability of society to properly recognize and celebrate women's roles in history.
Alan Bennett's quote provides a critical reflection on the traditional narrative of history that predominantly features male achievements while marginalizing the significant contributions of women. By comparing history to a commentary on men's incapabilities, he critiques how history is often written from a biased perspective. The metaphor of 'women following behind with the bucket' suggests that women's roles, often relegated to the background, are essential yet undervalued, emphasizing a call for a more inclusive historical narrative that acknowledges the integral part women play in shaping society.
Themes
HistoryWomenSocietyIncapabilitiesGender
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on gender representation in history, this quote can be used to illustrate the overlooked narratives of women.
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All quotes βTo begin with, it's true, she read with trepidation and some unease. The sheer endlessness of books outfaced her and she had no idea how to go on; there was no system to her reading, with one book leading to another, and often she had two or three on the go at the same time.
Alan BennettRead
A book is a device to ignite the imagination.
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Those who have known the famous are publicly debriefed of their memories, knowing as their own dusk falls that they will only be remembered for remembering someone else.
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To read is to withdraw.To make oneself unavailable. One would feel easier about it if the pursuit inself were less...selfish.
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The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours
Alan BennettRead
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