Let it never be said...
Posted by Greg on January 03, 1998 at 23:51:21:
In response to At the risk of being chastised as well : ) - longish, written by Carolyn B on January 03, 1998 at 21:36:03
...My all time favorite JA quotes are Catherine's comments about history in Chapter 14:
] But history, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in. {*snip*} The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all--it is very tiresome:
...I used to use that as my signature line for my e-mail in grad school and actually got comments back from my friends congratulating me on choosing it!
...I also love Catherine's further comments on history and historians (now that my master's thesis is over and one with) and Henry's reply:
] "You are fond of history! And so are Mr. Allen and my father; and I have two brothers who do not dislike it. So many instances within my small circle of friends is remarkable! At this rate, I shall not pity the writers of history any longer. If people like to read their books, it is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on purpose to do it."
] "That little boys and girls should be tormented," said Henry, "is what no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized state can deny; but in behalf of our most distinguished historians, I must observe that they might well be offended at being supposed to have no higher aim, and that by their method and style, they are perfectly well qualified to torment readers of the most advanced reason and mature time of life. I use the verb 'to torment,' as I observed to be your own method, instead of 'to instruct,' supposing them to be now admitted as synonymous."
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.
