Leopold von Ranke Quotes

• To history has been assigned the office of judging the past, of instructing the present for the benefit of future ages. To such high offices this work does not aspire. It wants only to show what actually [essentially?] happened (wie es eigentlich gewesen).

  Leopold von Ranke

  Past, Judging, Office

  55 Copy quote

• It is striking how history, when resting on the memory of men, always touches the bounds of mythology.

  Leopold von Ranke

  Memories, Men, History

  Leopold von Ranke (1840). “The ecclesiastical and political history of the popes of Rome during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries”

  37 Copy quote

• You have reckoned that history ought to judge the past and to instruct the contemporary world as to the future. The present attempt does not yield to that high office. It will merely tell how it really was.

  Leopold von Ranke

  Past, Yield, History

  40 Copy quote

• History is no criminal court

  Leopold von Ranke

  Criminals, Court

  Leopold von Ranke (1981). “The secret of world history: selected writings on the art and science of history”, Fordham Univ Pr

  20 Copy quote

• Every generation is equidistant from God.

  Leopold von Ranke

  Generations

  31 Copy quote

• In schoolbooks and in literature we can separate ecclesiastical and political history; in the life of mankind they are intertwined.

  Leopold von Ranke

  History, Political, Literature

  18 Copy quote

• He who overcomes himself is divine. Most see their ruin before their eyes; but they go on into it.

  Leopold von Ranke

  Eye, Overcoming, Goes On

  23 Copy quote

• Most humans recognize their ruin, but they carry on regardless.

  Leopold von Ranke

  Ruins, Humans

  17 Copy quote

• All ages are equidistant from eternity, and just as immediately accessible to God's presence.

  Leopold von Ranke

  Age, Eternity, God's Presence

  16 Copy quote

• Calvin was virtually the founder of America.

  Leopold von Ranke

  America, Founders

  18 Copy quote

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