--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The historian, like everyone else, is…" description: "\"“The historian, like everyone else, is forever trapped in the egocentric predicament, and 'presentism' is his original sin.”\" — Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_free-your-mind_the-historian-like-everyone-else-is-fore_2666495.jpg" --- # The historian, like everyone else, is forever trapped in… ![“The historian, like everyone else, is forever trapped in the egocentric predicament, and 'presentism' is his original sin.” quote by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_free-your-mind_the-historian-like-everyone-else-is-fore_2666495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_free-your-mind_the-historian-like-everyone-else-is-fore_2666495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_free-your-mind_the-historian-like-everyone-else-is-fore_2666495.jpg) > ““The historian, like everyone else, is forever trapped in the egocentric predicament, and 'presentism' is his original sin.”” [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historians are trapped by personal bias, and present‑day perspectives (presentism) are their fundamental flaw. **In simple terms:** Historians’ bias limits objectivity. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and mitigate personal bias. Themes history bias methodology philosophy Mood critical analytical Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - teaching - public discourse - interpretation of events Key Concepts Epistemology historical relativism Questions to Reflect On - How can historians reduce presentism? - What role does self‑reflection play in scholarship? A Different Perspective Complete objectivity may be unattainable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Original sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-sin/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) ## Related quotes > [“The study of history is an antidote to the hubris of the present – the idea that everything we have, everything we do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/the-study-of-history-is-an-antidote-to-the-hubris-of-the-present-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Yanked out of the present, Adam discovered the richness of the past in people's stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/yanked-out-of-the-present-adam-discovered-the-richness-of-the-past-in/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [I feel history is more of a story than a lesson. I know this idea of presentism: this idea of constantly evoking the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarnath-banerjee/i-feel-history-is-more-of-a-story-than-a-lesson-i-know-this-idea-of/) [Sarnath Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarnath-banerjee/) > [If the end of the twentieth century can be characterized by futurism, the twenty-first can be defined by presentism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/if-the-end-of-the-twentieth-century-can-be-characterized-by-futurism/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [“Neuroscientists rarely have to grapple with the issue of presentism versus existentialism. But in practice, neuroscientists are implicitly presentists. They view the past, present,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-buonomano/neuroscientists-rarely-have-to-grapple-with-the-issue-of-presentism/) Dean Buonomano > [If you share your secrets even your deep darkest it can help free your mind. The fear must be faced to get relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devjean/if-you-share-your-secrets-even-your-deep-darkest-it-can-help-free/) DevJean > [Free your heart from hatred - forgive. Free your mind from worries - most never happen. Live simply and appreciate what you have. Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/free-your-heart-from-hatred-forgive-free-your-mind-from-worries-most/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Free your mind, Jowendrhan. A cage is only a cage as long as you believe it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/free-your-mind-jowendrhan-a-cage-is-only-a-cage-as-long-as-you/) Poppet > [Free your mind from comparing yourself to anyone! You are a priceless original that brings something to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/free-your-mind-from-comparing-yourself-to-anyone-you-are-a-priceless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Free your mind and your ass will follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clinton/free-your-mind-and-your-ass-will-follow/) [George Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clinton/) > [“I don't like when people say 'I can't believe I wasted the whole day reading.' Diving into another world to free your mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stocking/i-don-t-like-when-people-say-i-can-t-believe-i-wasted-the-whole-day/) [Chris Stocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stocking/) > [Always expand. Never be the same. Free your mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-expand-never-be-the-same-free-your-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“move. For one thing, you’re going to start paying more attention. Yes, perhaps you’ll sometimes have a crazed, wild-eyed look, but that’s a price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/move-for-one-thing-you-re-going-to-start-paying-more-attention-yes/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [Find your way, free your mind , trace the sky, this is your chance at a new beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/find-your-way-free-your-mind-trace-the-sky-this-is-your-chance-at-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' The Beatles said, 'Free your mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/elvis-presley-s-music-said-free-your-body-the-beatles-said-free-your/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) ## More by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr > [“In 1856 the Know-Nothings even ran a former president, Millard Fillmore, as their presidential candidate. "Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-1856-the-know-nothings-even-ran-a-former-president-millard/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“for an informed judgment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/for-an-informed-judgment/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“His peroration, no doubt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/his-peroration-no-doubt/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“The Irish were regarded as shiftless and drunken; moreover, they were papists, and their fealty to Rome, it was said, meant they could never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/the-irish-were-regarded-as-shiftless-and-drunken-moreover-they-were/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Yet the old faith in the power of Bryce's "amazing solvent" to fulfill Washington's conception of Americans as "one people" held fast. However much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/yet-the-old-faith-in-the-power-of-bryce-s-amazing-solvent-to-fulfill/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [ “\[P\]ressed too far, the cult of ethnicity has had bad consequences too. The new ethnic gospel rejects the unifying vision of individuals from all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/p-ressed-too-far-the-cult-of-ethnicity-has-had-bad-consequences-too/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [ “\[I\]s there not something basically hostile to the actor's art in the consanguinity principle? After all, what is acting but an exercise in dissimulation?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/i-s-there-not-something-basically-hostile-to-the-actor-s-art-in-the/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Let us by all means teach black history, African history, women's history, Hispanic history, Asian history. But let us teach them as history, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/let-us-by-all-means-teach-black-history-african-history-women-s/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“In New York the curriculum guide for 11th-grade American history tells students that there were three "foundations" for the Constitution: the European Enlightenment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-new-york-the-curriculum-guide-for-11th-grade-american-history/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“but also where the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/but-also-where-the/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Though Fidel came to boast of his Marxism-Leninism, he himself never joined the Communist Party. As the revolution careened along, the Communists may even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/though-fidel-came-to-boast-of-his-marxism-leninism-he-himself-never/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“To what extent did Castro at this point conceal secret communist purposes? He later said that he hid radical views in order to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/to-what-extent-did-castro-at-this-point-conceal-secret-communist/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“In 1974, after testimony from ethnic spokesmen denouncing the melting pot as a conspiracy to homogenize America, Congress passed the Ethnic Heritage Studies Program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-1974-after-testimony-from-ethnic-spokesmen-denouncing-the-melting/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Multiculturalism" arises as a reaction against Anglo- or Eurocentrism; but at what point does it mutate into an ethnocentrism of its own?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/multiculturalism-arises-as-a-reaction-against-anglo-or-eurocentrism/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“In the Skokie case, it upheld the right of neo-Nazis to parade down the streets of an Illinois town inhabited by Holocaust survivors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-the-skokie-case-it-upheld-the-right-of-neo-nazis-to-parade-down/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) [Explore all 31 Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) ## More Free your mind quotes > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' 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Free your mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-expand-never-be-the-same-free-your-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don't like when people say 'I can't believe I wasted the whole day reading.' Diving into another world to free your mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stocking/i-don-t-like-when-people-say-i-can-t-believe-i-wasted-the-whole-day/) [Chris Stocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stocking/) > [Free your mind and your ass will follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clinton/free-your-mind-and-your-ass-will-follow/) [George Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clinton/) > [Free your mind from comparing yourself to anyone! You are a priceless original that brings something to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/free-your-mind-from-comparing-yourself-to-anyone-you-are-a-priceless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Free your mind, Jowendrhan. A cage is only a cage as long as you believe it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppet/free-your-mind-jowendrhan-a-cage-is-only-a-cage-as-long-as-you/) Poppet > [Free your heart from hatred - forgive. Free your mind from worries - most never happen. Live simply and appreciate what you have. Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/free-your-heart-from-hatred-forgive-free-your-mind-from-worries-most/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you share your secrets even your deep darkest it can help free your mind. The fear must be faced to get relief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devjean/if-you-share-your-secrets-even-your-deep-darkest-it-can-help-free/) DevJean > [“Don’t apologize. My ma used to say that crying is good for you. Tears are the path that free your mind of sorrowful thoughts.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/don-t-apologize-my-ma-used-to-say-that-crying-is-good-for-you-tears/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Will you ever use common sense, I hear it comes pretty cheap. And if I speak more clearly, if I make more sense. Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/will-you-ever-use-common-sense-i-hear-it-comes-pretty-cheap-and-if-i/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [“You are free. Your mind belongs to you. Your thoughts are yours. Honor the sacred territory of your freedom and individuality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-are-free-your-mind-belongs-to-you-your-thoughts-are-yours-honor/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Sometimes your mind can imprison your body and can put your body under some constraints. There is only one way for your body to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/sometimes-your-mind-can-imprison-your-body-and-can-put-your-body/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Don’t keep running the race of life with the same heavy load of mistakes and indecisiveness! You may grow weary and weary! Mistakes lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/don-t-keep-running-the-race-of-life-with-the-same-heavy-load-of/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) Browse all 88 Free your mind quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The historian, like everyone else, is forever trapped in the egocentric predicament, and 'presentism' is his original sin.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur M. 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