People often wonder why historians go to so much trouble to preserve millions of books, documents and records of the past. Why do we have libraries? What good are these documents and the history books? Why do we record and save the actions of men, the negotiations of statesmen and the campaigns of armies?

Because, sometimes, the voice of experience can cause us to stop, look and listen. And because, sometimes, past records, correctly interpreted, can give us warning of what to do and what not to do.

If we are ever to create enduring peace, we must seek its origins in human experience and in the record of human idealism. From the story of the fortitude, courage and devotion of men and women, we create the inspirations of youth. From stories of the ancient cave dwellers right down to today's environmental activists, history records people's success, intelligence and strength. Surely from these records there can come help to mankind in our confusions and promote and in our desires for peace.

The supreme purpose of history is a better world. History gives a warning to those who would promote war. History brings 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 all these records, we can see the progress of mankind.

參考中文譯文

人們常常心存疑慮，為什么歷史學(xué)家要費(fèi)盡周折地保存數(shù)以萬計(jì)過去的書籍、文獻(xiàn)和記錄。我們?yōu)槭裁匆袌D書館呢？這些文獻(xiàn)和史書有何用處呢？我們?yōu)槭裁匆涊d并保存人類的行為、政治家的談判和軍隊(duì)的戰(zhàn)役呢？

因?yàn)?，有時(shí)候經(jīng)驗(yàn)之談能促使我們停步、觀察和傾聽。也因?yàn)橛袝r(shí)候過去的記載經(jīng)過正確的詮釋，可以給我們一種警示，告訴我們何事可做、何事不可做。

如果我們想要永保和平，我們就必須從人類經(jīng)驗(yàn)以及人類追求理想的歷程中去探索其淵源。從體現(xiàn)男性和女性不屈不撓、勇敢和奉獻(xiàn)精神的故事之中，我們獲得了青春的啟示。遠(yuǎn)自基督教殉道者，近到布達(dá)佩斯的當(dāng)代英勇烈士，歷史記載著人類的一切苦難、克己、忠誠(chéng)和英勇的事跡。當(dāng)然，那些記載一定會(huì)對(duì)處于困惑、茫然和渴望和平的人們有所助益。

歷史的終極目的是創(chuàng)造一個(gè)更加美好的世界。歷史對(duì)那些力主戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的人加以警告。對(duì)于那些追尋和平的人予以啟示。簡(jiǎn)而言之，歷史幫助我們學(xué)習(xí)。昨日的記載可以使我們避免重蹈覆轍。而這些由歷史學(xué)家所匯集的鑲嵌圖案藝術(shù)品，將會(huì)逐漸成為表現(xiàn)人類進(jìn)步的偉大壁畫。

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