The footnote would seem to be the smallest detail in a work of history. Yet it carries a large burden of responsibility, testifying to the validity of the work, the integrity (and the humility) of the historian, and to the dignity of the discipline.
Interpretation
Footnotes may appear insignificant, but they hold great importance in supporting historical work.
Gertrude Himmelfarb emphasizes that, although footnotes are often considered trivial details in historical writing, they play a crucial role in validating the information presented, showcasing the historian's integrity, and upholding the respectability of history as a discipline. This observation highlights the importance of thoroughness and humility in scholarly work.
In practice
During a lecture about historiography, one might cite this quote to emphasize the importance of proper sourcing.
As liberty of thought is absolute, so is liberty of speech, which is 'inseparable' from the liberty of thought. Liberty of speech, moreover, is essential not only for its own sake but for the sake of truth, which requires absolute liberty for the utterance of unpopular and even demonstrably false opinions.
To give aid to every poor man is far beyond the reach and power of every man. Care of the poor is incumbent on society as a whole.
The wish to pray is a prayer in itself. God can ask no more than that of us.
Are you scared?’ asked Mr. Ibis. ‘Not really.’ ‘Well, try to cultivate the emotions of true awe and spiritual terror, as we walk. They are the appropriate feelings for the situation at hand.
Dreaming is a philogenetically older mode of thought.
Medicine is the keystone of the arch of socialism.
Five to six thousand people die every year waiting for organs, but nobody cares.
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