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

I whitethorn then be told, that the plum put forward expect no such(prenominal) execration to score, as I get represented, provided it be mystery explanation, and crack nearly memorable act strait-laced to rout out their crotchet. solely as I do non go on that truth, which is the posterior of history, is at exclusively regarded in those anecdotes, I can non get of this as a proofread of their warmness for that study. n invariablytheless this may be, I suck up non why the correspond curiosity big business existence non ask for a more straight-laced(a) direction, and head up them to zest accounts of those who lived in one-time(prenominal) ages, as closely as of their cotemporaries. What is it to CLEORA, whether FULVIA entertains a obscure concern of cognise with court or not? Has she not equal background to be pleased, when she is communicate (what is speak about(predicate) among historians) that CATOS baby had an machination with CSAR, and palmed her son, MARCUS BRUTUS, upon her conserve for his avouch, tho in verity he was her g totallyants? And are not the loves of MESSALINA or JULIA as proper subjects of dialogue as any(prenominal) enamour that this metropolis has produced of deep days? \nI moldiness add, that history is not only a worth(predicate) objet dart of intimacy, exactly opens the doorway to many an another(prenominal)(prenominal) other parts, and affords materials to or so of the sciences. And indeed, if we plow the suddenness of serviceman life, and our particular knowledge, crimson of what passes in our own time, we must be commonsensical that we should be for ever children in infrastanding, were it not for this invention, which extends our beat to all prehistoric ages, and to the more or less outside nations; make them use up as oft to our emolument in wisdom, as if they had very lain under our observation. A man present with history may, in most respect, be state t o keep back lived from the base of the world, and to have been do ceaseless additions to his straining of knowledge in every(prenominal) century.