Introductory Lectures on Modern History

“Upon perusal, here and there, we find these Lectures worthy of their high repute; so unusual is the union of candor with energy; of a widely-ranging and fair sight with vivacity.”

“Some appear to be unable to conceive of belief or unbelief except as having some ulterior object; we believe this, because we love it; we disbelieve it, because we wish it to be disproved.”

“There is, however, in minds more healthfully constituted, a belief and disbelief grounded solely upon the evidence of the case, arising neither out of partiality nor out of prejudice against the supposed conclusions which may result from its truth or falsehood.”

“Keep your view of men and things extensive, and depend upon it a mixed knowledge is not a superficial one;—as far as it goes, the views that it gives are true—but he who reads deeply in one class of writers only, gets views which are almost sure to be perverted, and which are not only narrow but false.”

“Adjust your proposed amount of reading to your time and inclination—this is perfectly free to every man, but whether that amount be large or small, let it be varied in its kind, and widely varied.”

“It is a very hard thing to read at once passionately and critically, [Dr. A.”

“I would say, as a good general rule, never read the works of any ordinary man, except on scientific matters or when they contain simple matters of fact.”

“Even on simple matters of fact, silly and ignorant men, however honest, and industrious on their particular subject, require to be read with constant watchfulness and suspicion; whereas great men are always instructive, even amidst much of error on particular points.”

“In general, however, I hold it to be certain, that the truth is to be found in the great men, and the error in the little ones.”