This life of man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly ignorant.
Venerable BedeIf history records good things about good people, the thoughtful hearer is encouraged to imitate what is good; or if it records the evil of wicked people, the godly listener or reader is encouraged to avoid all that is sinful and bad, and to do what he knows to be good and pleasing to God.
Venerable Bede