In Defense of History Quotes

“The fact is that while a chemist, for instance, knows in advance the result of mixing two elements in a crucible, the historian has no such advance knowledge of anything, nor is trying to gain such knowledge really central to the business historians are engaged in.”
― Richard J. Evans, In Defence of History

“The first prerequisite of the serious historical researcher must be the ability to jettison dearly held interpretations in the face of the recalcitrance of the evidence.”
― Richard J. Evans, In Defense of History

“History,” declared Droysen, “is the only science enjoying the ambiguous fortune of being required to be at the same time an art.”
― Richard J. Evans, In Defense of History

“As Raymond Martin has put it: 'When it comes to understanding the past, historians are the acknowledged experts. But when it comes to understanding how we understand the past, there are no experts.' The American apostle of quantitative history Robert Fogel declares somewhat gloomily in the light of all this, that historians have a choice: 'Either they ignore the philosophers and get on with what they are doing, but that might mean that they will continue to work without understanding how they are doing it. Or they down tools to listen to the philosophers, but this will most likely mean that tools will stay permanently drowned.' But this counsel of despair is belied by the numerous examples of practicing historians who have managed to do both. [...] The more this happens, the better.”
― Richard J. Evans, In Defense of History

“Many historians have seen their task not in creating narratives but in destroying them. “Ever since historical study became professional,” Elton declared toward the end of his life,”—that is to say, systematic, thorough and grounded in the sources—it has time and again destroyed just those interpretations that served particular interests, more especially national self-esteem and self-confidence.”

The continued prevalence of national historical myths in the Third World was for him a matter for regret. “The world is now in the hands of adolescents,” he moaned.”
― Richard J. Evans, In Defense of History

“History has always been seen by historians as a destroyer of myths as much as a creator of them.”
― Richard J. Evans, In Defense of History