God Arises
Argument for the Life Hereafter
~ 218 ~
rending tales of cruelty, injustice, exploitation, and
violation of human rights. Those who delve into
history are, as a rule, disappointed to see that the
hard realities of life bear no relation to the high
ideals enshrined in our consciences. The following
observations by famous philosophers, historians
and literary men are pertinent illustrations:
Voltaire:
History is nothing more than a
picture of crimes and misfortunes.
Herbert Spencer: History is simply useless gossip.
Napoleon:
History on the whole is another
name for a meaningless story.
Edward Gibbon: History, which is, indeed, little
more than the register of the
crimes, follies and misfortunes of
mankind.
Haegel:
The only thing public and
government have learnt from a
study of history is only that they
have learnt nothing from history.
