About History

The only truth in history is that there are no historical truths, only an infinite number of experiences, most of them quickly forgotten, a few remembered and elaborated upon by bards, novelists, philosophers, priests, filmmakers, and, of course, professional historians. Historians are different mainly in the spirit of skepticism with which we address the available traces . . . we appreciate every source has an axe to grind. . . . In our trade it is also no sin to admit that the world is very seldom divided between heroes and villains, innocent and guilty.

David G. Marr, Vietnam 1945: The Quest for Power