History is hereditary only in this way: we, all of us, inherit everything, and then we choose what to cherish, what to disavow, and what do do next, which is why it's worth trying to know where things come from.

Jill Lepore
About This Quote

History is hereditary only in this way: we, all of us, inherit everything, and then we choose what to cherish, what to disavow, and what do do next. History is our inheritance. We don't choose it. And it's not about pride or shame or something that would be defined by us.

It's not about you or me or anyone else. It's about the fact that everything has an origin. And if history is our inheritance, it's also ours to choose for ourselves.

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