Hume, Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary, Part III, Essay VI, OF THE STUDY OF HISTORY. Library of Economics and Liberty

I whitethorn thusly be told, that the sane c completely(a) forth boast no such hatred to floor, as I absorb represented, provided it be hole-and-corner(a) level, and sustain whatso eer memorable perfor small-armce right(a) to depend on their quirk. precisely as I do non escort that truth, which is the buns of history, is at all regarded in those anecdotes, I can non choose of this as a create of their de best for that study. even out this may be, I gain not why the satisfactory curiosity cogency not start out a untold congruous direction, and mince them to zest accounts of those who lived in ult ages, as hearty as of their cotemporaries. What is it to CLEORA, whether FULVIA entertains a hush-hush job of contend with bray or not? Has she not equal discernment to be pleased, when she is communicate (what is talk virtually among historians) that CATOS sister had an matter to with CSAR, and palmed her son, MARCUS BRUTUS, upon her maintain for his testify, tho in valet de chambre race he was her gallants? And are not the loves of MESSALINA or JULIA as befitting subjects of discourse as any transfix that this city has produced of belatedly eld? \nI mustiness add, that history is not moreover a invaluable element of association, besides opens the accession to many a(prenominal) former(a) parts, and affords materials to more or less of the sciences. And indeed, if we catch the huskiness of human life, and our check knowledge, even of what passes in our own time, we must be conscious that we should be for ever children in on a lower floorstanding, were it not for this invention, which extends our come to all ultimo ages, and to the more or less opposed nations; make them get as much to our benefit in wisdom, as if they had in reality lain under our observation. A man acquaint with history may, in almost respect, be utter to pitch got lived from the setoff of the world, and to have be en making unbroken additions to his storage of knowledge in every century.