It is impossible to write ancient history because we do not have enough sources and impossible to write modern history because we have too many.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Historical records are limited by scarcity of sources for the past and overload for the present.
- In plain terms
- We lack enough old sources and have too many new ones.
- What can you take from it?
- Both gaps and excesses challenge accurate history.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can we balance source scarcity and abundance?
- What methods improve modern historical accuracy?
Another view
Even with many sources, bias can still distort modern history.
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