"Ranke is cold and unenthusiastic; and, in judging individuals, it is well to be cold and unenthusiastic. But is there…"

"England, it has been said by one who, in our own days, has exhibited the old Puritan virtues to a world which had wel…"

"It has not, I hope, been for nothing that many years ago, as a young and unknown writer, I deliberately refrained fro…"

"To the historian no more interesting period can be found than one in which men of virtue and ability strove with one …"

"Whatever the future may have in reserve, this present work has constantly reminded me by how deep a gulf we are separ…"

"Certainly the politics of the seventeenth century, when studied for the mere sake of understanding them, assume a ver…"

"The statesman uses his imagination to predict the result of changes to be produced in the actually existing state of …"

"The more of a student he is—and no one can be a historian without being a very devoted student—the more he is removed…"

"Unless the historian can feel an affectionate as well as an intelligent interest in the personages with whom he deals…"

"What may be fairly demanded alike of Cromwell's admirers and of his critics is that they shall fix their eyes upon hi…"