--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: History, to be above evasion or dispute…" description: "\"History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.\" — Lord Acton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png" --- # History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on… ![“History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.” quote by Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png) > “History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.” [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical truth depends on documented evidence, not merely on personal opinions or narratives. **In simple terms:** History needs documents, not opinions. Key Takeaway Base conclusions on solid evidence. Themes history truth documentation objectivity Mood analytical skeptical Type academic critical When to use this quote - academic research - legal cases - policy making Key Concepts primary sources historical method Questions to Reflect On - What sources do you trust for historical facts? - How do you verify conflicting accounts? A Different Perspective Documents may be incomplete or biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dispute Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dispute-stand-4499064/) [Disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes/) [Documents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documents/) [Documents Opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documents-opinions-4499063/) [Evasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evasion/) [Evasion Dispute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evasion-dispute-4499065/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Evasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-evasion-4499061/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Stand Documents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-documents-4499062/) ## Related quotes > [We will also target tax evasion and off-shore tax havens... Everyone must pay their share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/we-will-also-target-tax-evasion-and-off-shore-tax-havens-everyone/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [“I am the body, and I am the rocks in the pockets, and I am the water. There is no evading myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-townsend/i-am-the-body-and-i-am-the-rocks-in-the-pockets-and-i-am-the-water/) [Belle Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-townsend/) > [People will say that it's some kind of evasion, but I would never want to have a kid for me. I'd want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-northam/people-will-say-that-it-s-some-kind-of-evasion-but-i-would-never-want/) [Jeremy Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-northam/) > [Even the most cynical can hardly be surprised by the antics of Nixon and his accomplices as they are gradually revealed. It matters little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/even-the-most-cynical-can-hardly-be-surprised-by-the-antics-of-nixon/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [All the lies and evasions by which man has nourished himself civilization, in a word is the fruits of the creative artist. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/all-the-lies-and-evasions-by-which-man-has-nourished-himself/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/when-a-child-asks-you-something-answer-him-for-goodness-sake/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [The evasion of responsibility is the major cause of most peoples frustrations and defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-evasion-of-responsibility-is-the-major-cause-of-most-peoples/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Indiscriminate tolerance and indiscriminate condemnation are not two opposites: they are two variants of the same evasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/indiscriminate-tolerance-and-indiscriminate-condemnation-are-not-two/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Tony Cox, still a painter and not yet married to Yoko Ono, pioneered in the use of mescaline for draft-evasion. 400 milligrams taken before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stafford/tony-cox-still-a-painter-and-not-yet-married-to-yoko-ono-pioneered-in/) [Peter Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stafford/) > [“A politician often uses an example or analogy as an attempt to make us forget the question he or she is supposedly answering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-politician-often-uses-an-example-or-analogy-as-an-attempt-to-make/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [For me, poetry is an evasion of the real job of writing prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/for-me-poetry-is-an-evasion-of-the-real-job-of-writing-prose/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Objection, evasion, joyous distrust, and love of irony are signs of health; everything absolute belongs to pathology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/objection-evasion-joyous-distrust-and-love-of-irony-are-signs-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There's also no doubt that tax evasion rises along with taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/there-s-also-no-doubt-that-tax-evasion-rises-along-with-taxes/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [The United States can certainly defeat North Vietnam, but the United States cannot defeat a guerrilla war which is being raged from a sanctuary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/the-united-states-can-certainly-defeat-north-vietnam-but-the-united/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune,--often the surfeit of our own behavior,--we make guilty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-is-the-excellent-foppery-of-the-world-that-when-we-are-sick-in/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Lord Acton > [The history of institutions is often a history of deception and illusions; for their virtue depends on the ideas that produce and on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-history-of-institutions-is-often-a-history-of-deception-and/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [A liberal is only a bundle of prejudices until he has mastered, has understood, experienced the philosophy of Conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/a-liberal-is-only-a-bundle-of-prejudices-until-he-has-mastered-has/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Every class is unfit to govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/every-class-is-unfit-to-govern/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Fanaticism displays itself in the masses; but the masses were rarely fanaticised; and the crimes ascribed to it were commonly due to the calculations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/fanaticism-displays-itself-in-the-masses-but-the-masses-were-rarely/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [In England Parliament is above the law. In America the law is above Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/in-england-parliament-is-above-the-law-in-america-the-law-is-above/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [There is not a more perilous or immoral habit of mind than the sanctifying of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/there-is-not-a-more-perilous-or-immoral-habit-of-mind-than-the/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Towns were the nursery of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/towns-were-the-nursery-of-freedom/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [It was from America that the plain ideas that men ought to mind their business, and that the nation is responsible to Heaven for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/it-was-from-america-that-the-plain-ideas-that-men-ought-to-mind-their/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/character-is-tested-by-true-sentiments-more-than-by-conduct-a-man-is/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/liberty-and-good-government-do-not-exclude-each-other-and-there-are/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The test of liberty is the position and security of minorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-test-of-liberty-is-the-position-and-security-of-minorities/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [The common vice of democracy is disregard for morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-common-vice-of-democracy-is-disregard-for-morality/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Feudalism made land the measure and the master of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/feudalism-made-land-the-measure-and-the-master-of-all-things/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [“power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutley”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/power-corrupts-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutley/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/there-are-many-things-the-government-cant-do-many-good-purposes-it/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) [Explore all 141 Lord Acton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) ## More Disputes quotes > [One lesson to learn is that the press and the broadcasters are not neutral. And it seems we have to learn it each time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/one-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-press-and-the-broadcasters-are-not/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [In our system of government, the judicial and legislative branches have different roles. Judges are not politicians. Judges must decide cases, not champion causes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/in-our-system-of-government-the-judicial-and-legislative-branches/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/dispute-not-because-ye-see-not-for-ye-receive-no-witness-until-after/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [People of good character are not all going to come down on the same side of difficult political and social issues. Good people-people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/people-of-good-character-are-not-all-going-to-come-down-on-the-same/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Private property is a necessary institution, at least in a fallen world; men work more and dispute less when goods are private than when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/private-property-is-a-necessary-institution-at-least-in-a-fallen/) [R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/) > [Unfortunately, the true force which propels our endless political disputes, our constant struggles for political advantage, is often not our burning concern for democracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olusegun-obasanjo/unfortunately-the-true-force-which-propels-our-endless-political/) [Olusegun Obasanjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olusegun-obasanjo/) > [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum , or in disputes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [What began as a bitter dispute over Union and States' Rights, ended as a struggle over the meaning of freedom in America. At Gettysburg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/what-began-as-a-bitter-dispute-over-union-and-states-rights-ended-as/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Even those who, like me, believe that Roe v. Wade and the decisions elaborating on reproductive rights were constitutionally correct must recognize that, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-tribe/even-those-who-like-me-believe-that-roe-v-wade-and-the-decisions/) [Laurence Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-tribe/) > [The right tools for solving disputes within our community are precision instruments such as reason, communication, empathy, curiosity, and understanding. They are also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-k-chappell/the-right-tools-for-solving-disputes-within-our-community-are/) [Paul K. Chappell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-k-chappell/) > [The philosophers of the Middle Ages demonstrated both that the Earth did not exist and also that it was flat. Today they are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilhjalmur-stefansson/the-philosophers-of-the-middle-ages-demonstrated-both-that-the-earth/) [Vilhjalmur Stefansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilhjalmur-stefansson/) > [Another rule I have is: Don't let your ego get tied up in a policy dispute. Otherwise, if things don't go your way, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/another-rule-i-have-is-don-t-let-your-ego-get-tied-up-in-a-policy/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Browse all 477 Disputes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lord Acton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-must-stand-on-documents-not-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disputes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-must-stand-on-documents-not-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/lord-acton-3040_disputes_history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-m_2959375.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“History, to be above evasion or dispute, must stand on documents, not on opinions.” — Lord Acton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lord Acton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "History, to be above evasion or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-must-stand-on-documents-not-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/history-to-be-above-evasion-or-dispute-must-stand-on-documents-not-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```