Accepted Quote by Paul Johnson
“Every good historian is almost by definition a revisionist. He looks at the accepted view of a particular historic episode or period with a very critical eye.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Historian's Craft, Paul Johnson, 1979
Historians must constantly re‑examine accepted narratives, challenging consensus to uncover deeper truth.
In simple terms: Historians should question the accepted story.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions, seek evidence.
Themes
history
critical thinking
revisionism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- public policy debates
- media analysis
- education curricula
Key Concepts
epistemology
bias
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance respect for tradition with the need for revision?
- When is revisionist work most valuable?
A Different Perspective
Revisionism can be seen as undermining cultural identity.
![“The Salem [witch] trials…can be seen as an example of the propensity of the American people to be convulsed by spasms of self-righteous rage against enemies, real or imaginary, of their society and way of living. Hence the parallels later drawn between Salem in 1692 and the “Red Scare” of 1919-20…” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/67d/paul-johnson-4585_american-people_the-salem-witch-trials-can-be-seen-as-an_82157.jpg)
![“He [Augustine] admitted: 'I am the sort of man who writes because he has made progress, and who makes progress by writing.'” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/24c/paul-johnson-4585_writer_he-augustine-admitted-i-am-the-sort-of-m_146973.jpg)
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
