HISTORY, N. An Account Mostly False, Of Events Mostly Unimportant, Which Are Brought About By Rulers Mostly Knaves, And Soldiers Mostly Fools.

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HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant,
which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly
fools.

Of Roman history, great Niebuhr's shown
'Tis nine-tenths lying. Faith, I wish 'twere known,
Ere we accept great Niebuhr as a guide,
Wherein he blundered and how much he lied.
Salder Bupp
-- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"

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