英国哲学家和科学家培根曾经说过:"读史使人明智。"历史通过文献和史书告诉我们前人的经验和教训,就像一个智慧的老人一样给我们宝贵的建议,让我们可以吸取教训,少走弯路,最终创造一个更加美好的世界。
People often wonder why historians go to so much trouble to preserve millions of books, documents and records. Why do we have libraries? What good are these documents and history books? Why do we record and save the actions of men, the negotiations1 of government officials and the events during wars? We do it because, sometimes, the voice of experience can cause us to stop, look and listen. Sometimes, past records, when understood in the right way, can help us decide what to do and what not to do. If we are ever to create lasting peace, we must seek its origins in human experience and in the records of human history. From the stories of courage and devotion of men and women, we create the inspirations of youth. History records the suffering, the self-denial2, the devotion, and the heroic3 deeds of people in the past. These records can help us when we are confused and when we really need peace. The main purpose of history is to create a better world. History gives a warning to those who promote war, and 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 mosaic4 assembled5 by historians come the great murals6 which represent the progress of mankind.
人们常常心存疑虑,为什么历史学家要费尽周折地保存数以万计的书籍、文献和记录。 我们为什么要有图书馆呢？这些文献和史书有何用处呢? 我们为什么要记载并保存人类的行为、政府官员的谈判和战争中的事件呢？ 我们这么做的原因在于有时候经验之音能促使我们停步、观察和倾听。也因为有时候过去的记载经过正确地诠释,能帮助我们决定何事可为、何事不可为。如果我们想要创造永久的和平,我们就必须从人类的经验以及人类历史的记载中去探索其渊源。 从体现男性和女性勇敢和奉献精神的故事之中,我们获得了青春的启示。历史记载着人类的一切苦难、克己、忠诚和英勇的事迹。这些记载在我们困惑和渴望和平时能对我们有所帮助。 历史的主要目的是创造一个更加美好的世界。历史对那些力主战争的人给以警告,给予那些寻求和平的人以启示。 简而言之,历史帮助我们学习。昨日的记载可以使我们避免重蹈覆辙。这些历史学家们创作的像马赛克一样色彩缤纷的历史片断汇聚成了代表人类进步的伟大壁画。