#love a good Napoleon cynecism - though he's not wrong

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

The truth of history, so much in request, to which every body eagerly appeals, is too often but a word. 

At the time of the events, during the heat of conflicting passions, it cannot exist; and if, at a later period, all parties are agreed respecting it, it is because those persons who were interested in the events, those who might be able to contradict what is asserted, are no more. 

What then is, generally speaking, the truth of history? A fable agreed upon. 

As it has been very ingeniously remarked, there are in these matters, two essential points, very distinct from each other: the positive facts, and the moral intentions. 

With respect to the positive facts, it would seem that they ought to be incontrovertible; yet you will not find two accounts agreeing together in relating the same fact: some have remained contested points to this day, and will ever remain so. 

With regard to moral intentions, how shall we judge of them, even admitting the candour of those who relate events? And what will be the case if the narrators be not sincere, or if they should be actuated by interest or passions? I have given an order, but who was able to read my thoughts, my real intentions? 

Yet every one will take up that order, and measure it according to his own scale, or adapt it to his own plans or system…. And then memoirs are digested, memoranda are written, witticisms and anecdotes are circulated; and of such materials is history composed. 

- Napoleon to Las Cases, 1816

(broken into paragraphs for ease of reading)

#And then memoirs are digested memoranda are written witticisms and anecdotes are circulated; and of such materials is history composed #napoleon bonaparte #st helena #I particularly like the ending of this quote #love a good Napoleon cynecism - though he's not wrong #history #19th century