arc of history

Definitions

The idea that history has a direction or purpose that “bends” (or can be bent) towards some goal.

Examples

“If Jim Yong Kim wants to ‘bend⟳ the arc of history’, he should start⟳ by addressing long-standing inequalities in his own⟳ organisation[.]”

“If Obama’s interests run⟳ toward history, so does his rhetoric. “It's the answer⟳ that led those who have⟳ been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve⟳ to put⟳ their hands on the arc of history and bend⟳ it once more toward the hope⟳ of a better day,” he said the evening of his first election.”

“We understand⟳ the great arc of human history bends towards people coming together in ever greater numbers — from tribes to cities to nations — to achieve⟳ things we couldn’t on our own⟳.”

“The nationalist was urging his listeners to question⟳ the prevailing narrative, to think⟳ the unthinkable, to bend⟳ the arc of history.”

“For the roughly half a million members here, many of whom joined in the wake⟳ of Covid-19 pandemic and two Donald Trump inaugurations, the arc of history feels more like⟳ a freefall.”

CEFR level