Business Quote by Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke
“To converse with historians is to keep good company; many of them were excellent men, and those who were not, have taken care to appear such in their writings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Letters and Essays, 1730s
Historians often present themselves as virtuous, masking true character in their writings.
In simple terms: Historians may hide their flaws in texts.
Key Takeaway
Read historical works critically for bias.
Themes
history
authorship
bias
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
critical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic study
- book clubs
- research projects
Key Concepts
literary criticism
historical analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What clues reveal an author's true motives?
- How can we discern bias in historical texts?
A Different Perspective
Not all historians are deceptive.
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