Intellectual honesty is the quality that the public in free countries always has expected of historians; much more than that it does not expect, nor often get.

Quote by Samuel E Morison

Topics: Historians Quotes

With honesty of purpose, balance, a respect for tradition, courage, and, above all, a philosophy...

With honesty of purpose, balance, a respect for tradition, courage, and, above all, a philosophy...

If a lecturer, he wishes to be heard; if a writer, to be read. He...

If a lecturer, he wishes to be heard; if a writer, to be read. He...

So I have cultivated the vast garden of human experience which is history, without troubling...

So I have cultivated the vast garden of human experience which is history, without troubling...

Courses on historical methodology are not worth the time that they take up. I shall...

Courses on historical methodology are not worth the time that they take up. I shall...

I have nothing revolutionary or even novel to offer.

I have nothing revolutionary or even novel to offer.

Every historian with professional standards speaks or writes what he believes to be true.

Every historian with professional standards speaks or writes what he believes to be true.

Everyone agrees to that; but when we come to define truth, dissension starts.

Everyone agrees to that; but when we come to define truth, dissension starts.

Skepticism is an important historical tool. It is the starting point of all revision of...

Skepticism is an important historical tool. It is the starting point of all revision of...

In any case, his judgment and set of values, acting alone or through his assistants,...

In any case, his judgment and set of values, acting alone or through his assistants,...

Too rigid specialization is almost as bad for a historian's mind, and for his ultimate...

Too rigid specialization is almost as bad for a historian's mind, and for his ultimate...

Yet enthusiasm is no excuse for the historian going off balance. He should remind the...

Yet enthusiasm is no excuse for the historian going off balance. He should remind the...

Any child knows that history can only be a reduced representation of reality, but it...

Any child knows that history can only be a reduced representation of reality, but it...

Throughout this evolution from left to right, Beard always detested war. Hence his writings were...

Throughout this evolution from left to right, Beard always detested war. Hence his writings were...

The same contingencies of time and space that force a statesman or soldier to make...

The same contingencies of time and space that force a statesman or soldier to make...

Historical methodology, as I see it, is a product of common sense applied to circumstances.

Historical methodology, as I see it, is a product of common sense applied to circumstances.

Historians tell the story of the past, novelists the story of the present.

Historians tell the story of the past, novelists the story of the present.

Historians don't really like to carry on speculative debates, but you could certainly argue that...

Historians don't really like to carry on speculative debates, but you could certainly argue that...

Traditionally art is to create and not to revive. To revive: leave that to the...

Traditionally art is to create and not to revive. To revive: leave that to the...

You're not a historian, but most historians will tell you that they make very discrete...

You're not a historian, but most historians will tell you that they make very discrete...

The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth....

The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth....