Accounts Quote by Tom Robbins
““Hardly a pure science, history is closer to animal husbandry that it is to mathematics in that it involves selective breeding. The principal difference between the husbandryman and the historian is that the former breeds sheep or cows or such and the latter breeds (assumed) facts. The husbandryman uses his skills to enrich the future, the historian uses his to enrich the past. Both are usually up to their ankles in bullshit.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Still Life with Woodpeckers, 1980
History shapes narratives like breeding, selecting facts to enrich our understanding of the past, but can be muddled by falsehoods.
In simple terms: History selects facts like breeding animals, but can be polluted.
Key Takeaway
Critically evaluate sources and seek truth.
Themes
history
truth
interpretation
bias
methodology
Mood
skeptical
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- media analysis
- public discourse
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
selective breeding
fact construction
narrative shaping
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify historical claims?
- What responsibilities do historians have to the public?
A Different Perspective
Historians may unintentionally propagate misinformation despite rigorous methods.
