In "The Armies of the Night," Norman Mailer reflects on the nature of history and time, drawing on a thought from Lenin that highlights the disparity in how we perceive time during periods of historical significance versus mundane periods. Mailer suggests that while a decade can feel uneventful, a single day filled with revolution can seem to stretch across years. This concept emphasizes the intensity and impact of transformative events in human history.

This exploration illustrates that historical moments, particularly those filled with conflict and change, can alter our sense of time. Mailer's writing reveals how significant events can compress years of experience into a single day while ordinary times can blur together and feel like a single, uneventful span. Through this lens, Mailer captures the essence of what it means to live through pivotal moments in history.