John Leonard, a well-known American journalist and critic, frequently wondered how the present can affect how we perceive the past. According to him, people have a tendency to change how they perceive the past over time in order to conform to modern ideals and viewpoints.

Think of history as a tree that is always changing, with each new branch signifying a new understanding or insight into the past. These branches get thicker and spread farther as our society and knowledge base change, changing our perception of the tree's earlier sections. According to Leonard, our understanding and interpretation of historical events evolves over time, but their fundamental structure stays the same.

Leonard was making a statement about how our understanding of the past can be influenced by the contexts, values, and knowledge of the present, not that people intentionally fabricate history. For example, historians' perspectives on women's roles throughout history have changed significantly in tandem with the dramatic shifts in societal attitudes toward gender equality in recent decades.

This concept emphasizes how dynamic historical understanding is and challenges us to maintain an open mind about how we view the past and the future. It serves as a reminder that, even though the facts might not change, how we interpret them can vary significantly based on the moment.