I also know that what follows is far from the whole picture. It is not false modesty which prompts me to say so but simply an acute awareness of what I have not included. The faces and voices of all that I have left out crowd around me as I reach the end.
In "The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914," Barbara W. Tuchman reflects on the complexity of her narrative. She acknowledges that her account does not encompass the entirety of the era's richness and intricacies. This recognition stems not from false modesty but from a genuine understanding of the many stories and voices she has left unrepresented.
Tuchman's awareness of the omitted elements emphasizes the challenges historians face in capturing the full scope of history. As she concludes her work, the absence of these diverse perspectives resonates with her, illustrating the importance of recognizing the broader context and the myriad experiences that shape historical events.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
