Date of Birth: November 5, 1885
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Date of Death: November 7, 1981
Biography
William James Durant, commonly known as Will Durant, was an American writer, historian, and philosopher best known for his works in the field of history and philosophy. Born on November 5, 1885, in North Adams, Massachusetts, Durant grew up in a French-Canadian family and pursued his education with vigor, earning a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Durant initially worked as a teacher and a priest before dedicating himself to writing. Durant’s most notable work is “The Story of Civilization,” an 11-volume series co-written with his wife, Ariel Durant. This extensive work covers the history of the world from ancient civilizations to the Napoleonic era, earning critical acclaim and wide readership. The Durants’ meticulous research and engaging narrative style brought history to life for many readers, making complex historical events accessible and interesting. Throughout his career, Durant received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. He passed away on November 7, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a rich legacy of historical scholarship and literary contributions.
5 Interesting Facts about Will Durant
1. Will Durant was originally trained as a Catholic priest before he left the seminary to pursue a career in teaching and writing.
2. Durant’s series “The Story of Civilization” took over four decades to complete and consists of 11 volumes.
3. He and his wife, Ariel Durant, were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1968 for “Rousseau and Revolution,” the 10th volume of their series.
4. Durant received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 for his contributions to literature and history.
5. Durant was also a proponent of humanism and wrote extensively on the subject, emphasizing the importance of reason, ethics, and justice.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Will Durant
1. “Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
2. “The love we have in our youth is superficial compared to the love that an old man has for his old wife.”
3. “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.”
4. “Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom.”
5. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Will Durant’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but his extensive book sales and awards suggest he was financially successful.
Children
Will and Ariel Durant had one child, a daughter named Ethel Benvenuta Durant, who was born in 1919.
Relevant Links
1. [Will Durant on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Durant
2. [The Will Durant Foundation](http://www.willdurant.com/
3. [Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/will-and-ariel-durant
4. [Will Durant Quotes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/26291.Will_Durant
5. [The Story of Civilization](https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Story-of-Civilization
