But history is neither watchmaking nor cabinet construction. It is an endeavor toward better understanding.
Marc BlochRead
The historian is, by definition, absolutely incapable of observing the facts which he examines.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Historians cannot witness events directly, making their accounts inherently subjective.
In this quote, Marc Bloch emphasizes the inherent limitations of historians, who, due to their temporal distance from the events they study, cannot observe the facts directly. Instead, historians rely on interpretations, narratives, and evidence that are influenced by their own perspectives, highlighting the subjective nature of historical inquiry.
Themes
HistorySubjectivityInterpretationEvidencePerspective
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the nature of historical writing, you might quote Bloch to illustrate how historians work.
More from Marc Bloch
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The American Revolution was carried out in the name of the people, and it was supposedly 'We, the people,' who created the government that Americans still live under.
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