Quote by Leopold Von Ranke
You have reckoned that history ought to judge the past and to instruct the contemporary world as to the future. The present attempt does not yield to that high office. It will merely tell how it really was.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the distinction between the purposes of historical analysis and the primary objective of simply presenting facts. While the quote acknowledges the potential of history to serve as a guiding force for the present and future, it suggests that the present attempt at historical documentation does not have that ambitious aspiration. Instead, it aims to provide an authentic account of events without interpreting or drawing lessons from them. The quote implies that this particular endeavor focuses on transparency and accuracy rather than on shaping or influencing the contemporary world.
Topics
Future
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