Animal life, sombre mystery. All nature protests against the barbarity of man, who misapprehends, who humiliates, who tortures his inferior brethren.
Jules MicheletRead
The historian's first duties are sacrilege and the mocking of false gods. They are his indispensable instruments for establishing the truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Historians have a responsibility to challenge misconceptions and expose falsehoods in order to uncover the truth.
This quote emphasizes the role of historians as guardians of truth, whose task is not only to document history but also to question and criticize widely accepted beliefs that may be misleading or false. By calling the act of challenging false gods 'sacrilege', it highlights the potential backlash historians may face when defying established narratives, underscoring the importance of fearless inquiry in the pursuit of historical accuracy.
Themes
HistoryTruthFalsehoodHistoriansSacrilege
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about historical methodology, one could use this quote to stress the importance of critical thinking.
More from Jules Michelet
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How beautifully everything is arranged by Nature; as soon as a child enters the world, it finds a mother ready to take care of it.
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