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2 ideas
20253 | Modern wars arise from the study of history [Nietzsche] |
Full Idea: The great wars of our day are the effects of the study of history. | |
From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 180) | |
A reaction: The Prussians reacted to Napoleon. The Nazis reacted to Versailles. But now the study of history reveals to us dreadful wars based on simplistic accounts of history. Be wise about history, not ignorant of it. |
20261 | History does not concern what really happened, but supposed events, which have all the influence [Nietzsche] |
Full Idea: The writer of history deals not with what really happened but merely with supposed events, for only the latter have had an effect. ...All historians speak of things that have never existed except in imagination. | |
From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Dawn (Daybreak) [1881], 307) | |
A reaction: This seems blatantly true, and is most obvious in the case of forged documents which have been hugely influential. Erroneous conspiracy theories are another example. (Note: only scorn conspiracy theories if you think conspiracies never happen!). |