Boyd K. Packer Quinn (ed), Faithful History: Essays On Writing Mormon History, p 103, fn 22
“
I have a hard time with historians because they idolize the truth. The truth is not uplifting; it destroys. I could tell most of the secretaries in the church office building that they are ugly and fat. That would be the truth, but it would hurt and destroy them. Historians should tell only that part of the truth that is inspiring and uplifting.
— Historian
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I have a hard time with historians because they idolize the truth. The truth is not uplifting; it destroys. I could tell most of the secretaries in the church office building that they are ugly and fat. That would be the truth, but it would hurt and destroy them. Historians should tell only that part of the truth that is inspiring and uplifting." in the context of "Boyd K. Packer Quinn (ed), Faithful History: Essays On Writing Mormon History, p 103, fn 22" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Historian" (Quotes)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Tags
About Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past, and is regarded as an authority on it.
About Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past, and is regarded as an authority on it.
View all quotes →