“Read no history--nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.”

“Do not read history. Read biography for it is life without theory.”

“[I]nternalized experiences of selfhood are linked to autobiographical narratives, which are linked to biographies, legal testimonies, and medical case histories, which are linked to forms of therapy and theories of the subject. . .”

“It is disappointing how people tend not to read a broad range of material. When the poets only read poetry, the historians only read history, the theorists only read theory, and the philosophers only read philosophy, we experience a clear deficiency in poetry, history, theory, and philosophy. We are far away from Renaissance human beings sculpting themselves to be full and all encompassing in knowledge and life pursuits.”

“I don’t read biographies for moral instruction, or for a history lesson. I want to know what people are saying about me.”

“All history is biography.”