John Morley: “All this, however, was no more than the fringe, though one of the…”

On the record

All this, however, was no more than the fringe, though one of the hardest things in history is to be sure where substance begins and fringe ends.

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John Morley

Source

Morley reflects on the complexity of historical narratives, noting the difficulty in distinguishing between significant events and minor details.

More from John Morley

With a few exceptions, a political speech like the manna in the wilderness loses its savour on the second day.

This was a complete falsification of a whole set of our national promises.

Could ministers justify abandonment, without far stronger evidence than they then possessed that they could not govern the Transvaal peaceably?

But Turgot was one of those severe and scrupulous souls, to whom a wicked promise does not cease to be degrading by becoming hypocritical.

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John Morley: “All this, however, was no more than the fringe, though one of the hardest things in history is to be sure where…”