Common Quote by John Dryden
“We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what they help distribute to the public; by which means a falsehood once received from a famed writer becomes traditional to posterity.”
About This Quote
Historians often accept and repeat earlier narratives without rigorous verification, allowing errors to become entrenched as accepted history.
In simple terms: Uncritical transmission of historical narratives.
Key Takeaway
Vigilant source scrutiny is essential.
Themes
historical methodology
truth-seeking
intellectual responsibility
cultural memory
Mood
skeptical
reflective
cautious
Type
max
cautionary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- public education
- media reporting
- museum curation
Key Concepts
source criticism
confirmation bias
tradition vs. innovation
Practical Applications
- critical historiography
- fact-checking workflows
Questions to Reflect On
- How can scholars balance respect for tradition with the need for verification?
- What mechanisms can prevent the propagation of historical inaccuracies?
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
