"The good historian is like the giant of the fairy tale. He knows that wherever he catches the scent of human flesh, there his quarry lies"

This quote by Marc Bloch is a metaphor comparing a historian to a giant from a fairy tale. The giant in the fairy tale is able to identify the existence of humans by their aroma, and the historian is likewise able to identify the presence of history by its aroma. Bloch is recommending that the historian has the ability to detect the existence of history in the very same way that the giant is able to identify the presence of human beings. The historian is able to reveal the past by following the aroma of human flesh, which is a metaphor for the evidence of history. Bloch is recommending that the historian is able to reveal the past by following the proof of history, which is often discovered in the form of files, artifacts, and other sources. By following the fragrance of human flesh, the historian has the ability to discover the past and get a much better understanding of the events that have shaped our world.