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.Collection: Future
Every generation is equidistant from God.
He who overcomes himself is divine. Most see their ruin before their eyes; but they go on into it.
To history has been assigned the office of judging the past, of instructing the present for the benefit of future ages. To such high offices this work does not aspire. It wants only to show what actually [essentially?] happened (wie es eigentlich gewesen).Collection: Past
It is striking how history, when resting on the memory of men, always touches the bounds of mythology.Collection: Memories
History is no criminal courtCollection: Criminals
In schoolbooks and in literature we can separate ecclesiastical and political history; in the life of mankind they are intertwined.Collection: History
Most humans recognize their ruin, but they carry on regardless.Collection: Ruins
All ages are equidistant from eternity, and just as immediately accessible to God's presence.Collection: Age
Calvin was virtually the founder of America.Collection: America