Yes, Things Were Different Then

A few years ago, an editor I very much admire said something that made my eyes cross. Im paraphrasing here, because Im too lazy to go look the exact quote, but, in answer to a neophyte writer who wanted to know if she had to do a whole lot of research in order to write historical fiction or historical fantasy, the editor said (paraphrasing, right?): you have to do some, but people are basically people, no matter when/where you set them.