No historian can take part with- or against- the forces he has to study. To him even the extinction of the human race should merely be a fact to be grouped with other vital statistics.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Historians must remain neutral observers, treating even major events like human extinction as data rather than taking sides.
- In plain terms
- Historians should not take sides; they just study facts.
- What can you take from it?
- Maintain objectivity when studying historical events.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can I ever be fully objective?
- How do I handle bias?
Another view
Complete objectivity is difficult since historians choose what to study.
More from Henry Adams
Man is an imperceptible atom always trying to become one with God.
Permalink to quote #38 No man likes to have his intelligence or good faith questioned, especially if he has doubts about it himself.
Permalink to quote #40 It is impossible to underrate human intelligence- beginning with one's own.
Permalink to quote #37
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