Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results.
Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.
We face the future with our past and our present as guarantors of our promises; and we are content to stand or to fall by the record which we have made and are making.