What most impresses us about great jurists is not their tenacious grasps of fine points, honed almost to invisibility; it read more

What most impresses us about great jurists is not their tenacious grasps of fine points, honed almost to invisibility; it is the moment when we are suddently aware of the sweep and direction of the law, and its place in the lives of men.

Just as philosophy is the study of other people's misconceptions, so history is the study of other people's mistakes.

Just as philosophy is the study of other people's misconceptions, so history is the study of other people's mistakes.

It is sometimes very hard to tell the difference between history and the smell of skunk.

It is sometimes very hard to tell the difference between history and the smell of skunk.

The first qualification for a historian is to have no ability to invent.

The first qualification for a historian is to have no ability to invent.

The only thing that does not change is that at any and every time it appears that there have been read more

The only thing that does not change is that at any and every time it appears that there have been "great changes.".

The past always looks better than it was because it isn't here.

The past always looks better than it was because it isn't here.

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will read more

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.

Every man is his own ancestor, and every man his own heir. He devises his own fortune, and he inherits read more

Every man is his own ancestor, and every man his own heir. He devises his own fortune, and he inherits his own past.

All history . . . is an inarticulate Bible.

All history . . . is an inarticulate Bible.