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Writing the history of the present is always a very different thing from writing the history of the distant past. The history of the distant past depends entirely on literary and documentary sources; the history of the present always involves unwritten material as well as documents. But the difference was much greater in the days of Thucydides than it is now.

— J. B. Bury The Ancient Greek Historians (1909)

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More quotes by J. B. Bury

The Macedonian people and their kings were of Greek stock, as their traditions and the scanty remains of their language combine to testify.

A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great (1913)

But what assurance have we that they will not come up against impassable barriers?

The Idea of Progress: An Inquiry Into Its Origin and Growth (1921)

Polybius is not less express than Thucydides in asserting the principle that accurate representation of facts was the fundamental duty of the historian. He lays down that three things are requisite for performing such a task as his: the study and criticism of sources; autopsy, that is, personal knowledge of lands and places; and thirdly, political experience.

The Ancient Greek Historians (1909)

Most beliefs about nature and man, which were not founded on scientific observation, have served directly or indirectly religious and social interests, and hence they have been protected by force against the criticisms of persons who have the inconvenient habit of using their reason.

A History of Freedom of Thought (1913)

Socrates was the greatest of the educationalists, but unlike the others he taught gratuitously, though he was a poor man. His teachings always took the form of discussion; the discussion often ended in no positive result, but had the effect of showing that some received opinion was untenable and the truth is difficult to ascertain.

A History of Freedom of Thought (1913)

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