The significance of man is that he is insignificant and is aware of it.
Carl L. BeckerRead
The value of history is, indeed, not scientific but moral: by liberalizing the mind, by deepening the sympathies, by fortifying the will, it enables us to control, not society, but ourselves - a much more important thing; it prepares us to live more humanely in the present and to meet rather than to foretell the future.
Interpretation
What this quote means
History helps us develop morality and self-control, shaping our present and future experiences.
In this quote, Carl L. Becker emphasizes that the true value of history lies not in its scientific aspects, but in its capacity to cultivate moral understanding, empathy, and personal strength. By engaging with history, individuals can learn to better navigate their own lives and interactions, fostering a more humane existence in the present while preparing them to face the uncertainties of the future.
Themes
HistoryMoralitySelf-ControlHumanityFuture
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the importance of empathy, one might quote Becker to emphasize the moral lessons history teaches.
More from Carl L. Becker
All quotes →All historical writing, even the most honest, is unconsciously subjective, since every age is bound, in spite of itself, to make the dead perform whatever tricks it finds necessary for its own peace of mind.
Carl L. BeckerRead
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