"Rigorous presentation of the facts, however conditional and lacking in beauty they may be, is without question the supreme law."

Leopold von Ranke Literature See all quotes by Leopold von Ranke →

React to this quote

More by Leopold von Ranke

“To history has been attributed the function to judge the past, to instruct ourselves for the advantage of the future. Such a lofty function the present work does not attempt. It aims merely to show how it actually took place.”

“The ultimate aim of historical writing is the bringing before us the whole truth.”

“You are in the first place a Christian: I am in the first place a historian. There is a gulf between us.”

Resonant Thoughts

"The DeBeers people are almost saying what they really mean. You remember the old DeBeers slogan, "Diamonds are forever." Then they changed it to "This year, take her breath away." The new slogan is "D…"

— Ron White

Entertainment1956–2006

#justice

": Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

— Nathaniel Hawthorne

Literature1804–1864

#justice

"During my term in AU, I will initiate an organised compensation claim for Africa and I will fight for a greater voice for Africa in the United Nations Security Council. If they do not want to live wit…"

— Muammar Gaddafi

Politics1942–2011

#justice

"The Quranic philosophy of war is, for the better part, a philosophy of checks and restraints on the use of 'force' in interstate relations. The very Quranic command that directed the Muslims to go to …"

— S. K. Malik

Military1924–1988

#justice