赫伯特·克拉克·胡佛/Herbert Clark Hoover
People often wonder why historians go to so much trouble to preserve millions of books, documents and records of the past. Why do we have libraries? What good are these documents and the history books? Why do we record and save the actions of men, the negotiations of statesmen and the campaigns of armies?
Because, sometimes, the voice of experience can cause us to stop, look and listen. And because, sometimes, past records, correctly interpreted, can give us warning of what to do and what not to do.
If we are ever to create enduring peace, we must seek its origins in human experience and in the record of human idealism. From the story of the fortitude, courage and devotion of men and women, we create the inspirations of youth. From stories of the Christian martyrs, right down to Budapest's heroic martyrs of today, history records the suffering, the self-denial, the devotion and the heroic deeds of men. Surely from these records there can come help to mankind in our confusions and perplexities, and in our yearnings for peace.
The supreme purpose of history is a better world. History gives a warning to those who would promote war. History brings inspiration to those who seek peace. In short, history helps us learn. Yesterday's records can keep us from repeating yesterday's mistakes. And from the pieces of mosaic assembled by historians come the great murals which represent the progress of mankind.
人們常常不能理解，曆史學家為什麽要千方百計地去保存數以百萬計的曆史書籍、文獻和史實？我們為什麽要有圖書館？這些文獻和史書又有什麽用處？我們為什麽要記載並保存人類的行為、政治家的談判和軍隊的征戰？
因為經驗之音可以幫助我們駐足、觀察和傾聽。還因為過去的記載經過正確的檢驗，可以給我們以警示，告訴我們該做什麽，不該做什麽。